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Harm Reduction Services
Harm Reduction Services offered by Portland Public Health (located at 39 Forest Avenue in between Congress Street and Cumberland Avenue):
As part of their harm reductions services, Portland Public Health began distributing fentanyl test strips to clients on March 3, 2022. Fentanyl test strips are a harm reduction strategy aimed toward reducing fatal overdoses from drug supplies which contain fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are not 100% accurate in detecting fentanyl due to the binding properties of the chemical compound, but are a proven effective strategy. When used and interpreted correctly, and in combination with other harm reduction strategies, fentanyl test strips reduce the occurrence of fatal overdose due to fentanyl contamination.
Clients of The Exchange can obtain up to three test strips/exchange as well as training on how to use them at 39 Forest Avenue or at the outreach location on the corner of Oxford and Elm Streets.
Hours are as follows:
39 Forest Ave Needle Exchange Program:
All NEP participants receive education on risk reduction, overdose prevention education, naloxone, case management services, testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, STDs and referrals to drug treatment programs upon request.
If you are interested in signing up as a new client, one of the staff or volunteers and you will get enrolled quickly and anonymously. You will be given a Client ID and offered testing and naloxone in addition to clean supplies. You will be brought into the exchange room and asked a few basic questions regarding demographics and risk assessment. You will never be asked any personal information.
As part of their harm reductions services, Portland Public Health began distributing fentanyl test strips to clients on March 3, 2022. Fentanyl test strips are a harm reduction strategy aimed toward reducing fatal overdoses from drug supplies which contain fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are not 100% accurate in detecting fentanyl due to the binding properties of the chemical compound, but are a proven effective strategy. When used and interpreted correctly, and in combination with other harm reduction strategies, fentanyl test strips reduce the occurrence of fatal overdose due to fentanyl contamination. Clients of The Exchange can obtain up to three test strips/exchange as well as training on how to use them at 39 Forest Avenue or at the outreach location on the corner of Oxford and Elm Streets.
If your agency is interested in Harm Reduction or Overdose Response trainings, please call 207-756-8022 or 207-541-6952.
- Needle exchange services
- Naloxone distribution services
- Fentanyl test strip distribution (new as of 3/3/2022)
As part of their harm reductions services, Portland Public Health began distributing fentanyl test strips to clients on March 3, 2022. Fentanyl test strips are a harm reduction strategy aimed toward reducing fatal overdoses from drug supplies which contain fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are not 100% accurate in detecting fentanyl due to the binding properties of the chemical compound, but are a proven effective strategy. When used and interpreted correctly, and in combination with other harm reduction strategies, fentanyl test strips reduce the occurrence of fatal overdose due to fentanyl contamination.
Clients of The Exchange can obtain up to three test strips/exchange as well as training on how to use them at 39 Forest Avenue or at the outreach location on the corner of Oxford and Elm Streets.
Hours are as follows:
39 Forest Ave Needle Exchange Program:
- OPEN: Monday - Friday; 9:00AM - 4:00PM
- Sunday: No Outreach
- Monday: 2:00-4:00pm
- Tuesday: 2:00-4:00pm
- Wednesday: 2:00-4:00pm
- Thursday: 2:00-4:00pm
- Friday: 2:00-4:00pm
- Saturday: 11:00AM - 12:00PM
All NEP participants receive education on risk reduction, overdose prevention education, naloxone, case management services, testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, STDs and referrals to drug treatment programs upon request.
If you are interested in signing up as a new client, one of the staff or volunteers and you will get enrolled quickly and anonymously. You will be given a Client ID and offered testing and naloxone in addition to clean supplies. You will be brought into the exchange room and asked a few basic questions regarding demographics and risk assessment. You will never be asked any personal information.
As part of their harm reductions services, Portland Public Health began distributing fentanyl test strips to clients on March 3, 2022. Fentanyl test strips are a harm reduction strategy aimed toward reducing fatal overdoses from drug supplies which contain fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are not 100% accurate in detecting fentanyl due to the binding properties of the chemical compound, but are a proven effective strategy. When used and interpreted correctly, and in combination with other harm reduction strategies, fentanyl test strips reduce the occurrence of fatal overdose due to fentanyl contamination. Clients of The Exchange can obtain up to three test strips/exchange as well as training on how to use them at 39 Forest Avenue or at the outreach location on the corner of Oxford and Elm Streets.
If your agency is interested in Harm Reduction or Overdose Response trainings, please call 207-756-8022 or 207-541-6952.