Harm Reduction Action Center Helps Prevent HIV and Hepatitis C in Denver

The Harm Reduction Action Center is Denver's recognized expert in providing HIV and Hepatitis C prevention programming, using harm-reduction principles. Harm reduction allows Harm Reduction Action Center to meet drug users "where they're at," addressing the conditions of their drug use along with the use itself.

Denver's Harm Reduction Action Center Seeks to Reduce Drug Use Stigma, Increase Health Care Access

Stigma is a significant barrier for health care access for injection drug users, especially when seeking care for HIV.

People who inject drugs experience more environmental risks for obtaining HIV (1 in 10 new HIV infections result from injection drug use, while almost 1 in 5 people living with HIV are people who inject drugs) yet are less likely to get certain treatment, such as antiretroviral treatment (ART), than those who have contracted the virus through other modes of transmission.

According to a recent National Institute of Drug Use survey, participating health care providers were twice as likely to refuse ART to a patient with HIV if the patient is a regular IDU, than they would be if the person was not.

What is to be done? Simple. Educate healthcare professionals about injection drug use, present to service providers about harm reduction and include people who inject drugs in the daily workings of our society.

If you want to get involved with Denver’s only service provider educating, empowering and advocating with people who inject drugs in Denver, sign up for the
Harm Reduction Action Center's bi-weekly or monthly newsletter by contacting Iain at iain.harm.reduction@gmail.com.

Harm Reduction Action Center Photography Campaign To Be Displayed in the CO State Capitol

There is a fatal overdose every day and a half in Denver. This is sad, not only because we are losing friends and family but because most overdoses are preventable with basic adjustments to how public health is administered.

The Harm Reduction Action Center invites you to join them February 10-21 in the rotunda on the second floor of the Colorado State Capitol for a photographic exhibition that illustrates the human toll of those affected by overdoses in Denver. The images were created by nationally renowned photographer, and HRAC board member, Matt Slaby, in conjunction with HRAC's programs and puts a human face on an issue veiled in stigma and stereotype.

The efficacy of harm reduction is exemplified by the Colorado legislature's passage of several proactive laws over the past few years beginning with syringe access, then including the 911 Good Samaritan Law, Access to Naloxone for Third Party, and exemption of possession of syringes for syringe access participants to properly dispose of used syringes. The Colorado legislature supports good public health interventions. The exhibit is accompanied by Governor Hickenlooper's proclamation, establishing Colorado Overdose Awareness Day, joining us with the International community, that is annually held on August 31st.

According to the Denver Office of Drug Strategy, there are 5,000 injection drug users in Denver and an additional 6,500 in the surrounding counties. One in two is Hepatitis C positive and one in 10 is HIV positive. Colorado accidental overdoses have tripled in the last ten years, killing twice as many Coloradans as motor vehicle accidents.