Three days a week, our syringe access program provides case by case management in a non-competitive environment that permits individuals to congregate in a safe space with compassionate and non-judgmental staff. Staff members are trained in harm reduction principles and practices, substance abuse treatment, counseling, HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) testing, and risk reduction interventions. HRAC has partnerships and collaborates with agencies to provide health care and HIV/HCV prevention services to a wide range of IDU populations.

STRIVE is a 6 session, group-level, peer mentoring intervention designed to prevent high-risk drug injection behaviors. The intervention is delivered from two trained facilitators to groups of 5 to 9 persons. The program aims to reduce HCV transmission risks by training participants to mentor other IDUs to promote risk reduction information.

According to the Denver Office of Drug Strategy, there are 4,990 injection drug users in the City of Denver. HRAC believes there are 3 times this amount. In 2009, HRAC served 1,100 injection drug users and their sexual partners. STRIVE is an important set of classes that speak about HCV issues, treatment options, differences/similiarities between HIV/HCV, and ultimately provide IDU's relevant/factual health information to disseminate within their drug/social networks. HRAC continues to build our grassroots army of informed peer educators to continue to keep IDU's, especially those that do not access HRAC services for a variety of reasons, safe with correct health education pertaining to their lifestyles.

To see if you qualify for this class, please call 303.572.7800

The innovative Break The Cycle program which is new to the United States, facilitates the reduction of HIV and HCV prevalence by reducing new initiations into injection drug use. BTC imparts skills to refuse initiation requests, and to train current IDUs to be aware of the effects they may have on non-injecting drug users (NIDUs) by: a) directly injecting in front of NIDUs and b) discussing injection behaviors in the presence of NIDUs. Contrary to belief, it is the NIDUs request to be initiated; the majority of IDUs express regret to have initiated someone into “the hell of the injecting lifestyle”.

For more information about the intervention or to read Denver’s BTC initial demographic data results, please contact Stephanie by either email at woodstephanie@usa.net or by phone at 303.572.7800

Each week, a licensed therapist provides HRAC clients with a unique opportunity to both think and talk about the unresolved trauma experienced in the past or present, and the challenges faced in getting their needs met outside of drug use. Stress reduction, substance use reduction, and appropriate requests for support are encouraged in a constructive, compassionate, and non-judgmental language.

For more than four years, certified acupuncturists have dedicated both their time and energy to provide alternative medicine options for HRAC clients. Clients look forward to weekly detox treatments to find value in trying a different method to improve health outside of biomedical health care services. The dedication of these volunteers impacts IDU clients beyond health improvement; it reinforces their value as human beings worthy of additional efforts to receive health care services - far from the assumption that IDU are not worth the investment because of their challenges to maintain personal health.

The Harm Reduction Action Center’s “Walk-In” services are always available to Injection Drug Users and partners in need of immediate services including crisis prevention support, immediate emergency health care services navigation, and risk reduction counseling. We also provide direct referrals for shelters, prison re-entry employment, substance abuse treatment/methadone, local food/clothing banks, and health care enrollment application assistance.

HRAC’s access to services program is multi-faceted. HRAC works to address the psychological isolation and lack of support felt by many individuals actively injecting or affected by injecting as a partner or family member. Staff from HRAC talk with individuals, access their needs, provide referrals, and offer our programs and services during outreach with partnering agencies or one-on-one in-house sessions.

The Harm Reduction Action Center provides free Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and HIV testing on demand. Please call 303.572.7800 for either HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia or HCV testing and scheduling information.