Lindsey Loera, PharmD

Supporting your local harm reduction organization is a great way to address this concern of yours. Our friends in NYC are a great example of what can be achieved when people work together — onpointnyc.org

I hear your concern. This isn’t a reason to withhold access to care (every person deserves care, regardless of any choice they make). Many harm reduction orgs offer services, incl hazardous waste disposal, via a physical site &/or mobile clinic. Some even do boots on the ground community outreach.

Not AI. Providing sterile syringes reduces the transmission of infectious diseases. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce rates of HCV and HIV by ~50%. Not every person can access a SSP, but they likely can access a pharmacy. Doesn’t sound like poison to me!

Pharmacies should implement evidence-based harm reduction strategies, which includes providing access to nonprescription syringes.

Check out our latest secret-shopper audit of Austin, TX community pharmacies in JAMA Network Open, confirming anecdotal reports that many pharmacies are unwilling to sell syringes to people who inject drugs and that naloxone is not consistently stocked.

bit.ly/3Eoegzt