Harm Reduction

What Is Harm Reduction?

Harm reduction refers to a range of intentional practices and public health policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal.

What type of harm reduction does CRA provide?

The CRA center provides free access to Narcan/Harm Reduction bags and First Aid Kits.

What is Naloxone/Narcan?

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids. It is used to counter decreased breathing in opioid overdose. Effects begin within two minutes when given intravenously, five minutes when injected into a muscle, and ten minutes as a nasal spray. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids for 30 to 90 minutes.

CRA provides access to the nasal spray option of Naloxone.

What Can You Do?

Carry naloxone/Narcan®

Narcan is available for free throughout Northern Michigan. 

 
Note: Narcan is now available over the counter at your local drug store but can be cost prohibitive for many. It is still available for free in many locations. 

If you have prescription opioids in your house, keep Narcan on hand. 

Opioid overdoses can happen: 

  • to an elderly person who has forgotten they already took their medications.
  • an adult who took their medication as prescribed. 
  • a child who got into a prescription bottle. 
  • someone with substance use disorders. 
  • at home, at the spa, at the library, at a restaurant. 
  • someone who bought an illicit drug, and it was laced with fentanyl. 
  • to someone you know. 

Learn more 

Website and videos about naloxone, including how to administer it:

Families Against Narcotics Training Website

Project Red – Grand Rapids

 

Narcan will not harm someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.