Wayne County Public Health

Harm reduction focuses on the reduction of risky health behaviors by promoting safer health behaviors and prevention strategies. Harm reduction can be as simple as wearing a mask when feeling sick, wearing sunscreen when outside, or using contraception to practice safe sex. A harm reduction approach to drug use centers around the lived experiences of people who use drugs and aims to empower them and help meet their needs. The goal of a harm reduction approach to drug use is to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and improve access to healthcare, substance use, and mental health services. 

Wayne County Public Health promotes harm reduction through our Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, Narcan boxes, safer sex kits, and our role in the Wayne County Overdose Task Force. Safer sex kits are available upon request at the Wayne County Public Health reception window. To learn more about the Opioid Overdose Prevention Program and Narcan boxes, and the Wayne County Overdose Task Force, please visit their respective pages on our website. 

To learn more about what harm reduction is visit:

 https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction 

https://mattersnetwork.org/harmreduction/