Harm Reduction & Education

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies designed to reduce the negative consequences associated with substance use. It meets people where they are: without judgment, without pressure and without requiring readiness to quit.

The goal of harm reduction isn’t to ignore substance use. It's to make the lives of people who use substances safer and more stable, and to create pathways toward further support when and if the person is ready.

Harm reduction recognizes that people deserve dignity, care and access to information at every stage — not just when they decide to stop.

What it looks like in practice

Harm reduction takes many forms. Common strategies include:

• Overdose prevention education and access to naloxone (Narcan)

• Safer use information and supplies

• Connection to health and social services

• Information about treatment options, for when a person is interested

• Non-judgmental peer support and resource navigation

People can access harm reduction support at any point — before they feel ready for treatment, during active use or alongside other recovery goals they're working toward.

Harm reduction and recovery can work together

Harm reduction is not the opposite of recovery. For many people, harm reduction support is how they first connect with a recovery community, build trust with peer support workers and eventually explore other changes they want to make.

Staying safer is a meaningful goal in itself. Every step toward health and connection matters.

What we keep on hand

At TPCCV, we provide free harm reduction supplies including Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, and harm reduction bags. You do not need to identify yourself or sign up for anything. Just stop in and ask.

For additional harm reduction services and supplies in Central Vermont, we recommend connecting with Vermont CARES. They have two locations serving our area:

Vermont CARES — Barre
Phone: (802) 528-1139
Address: 51 Church Street, Suite 2, Barre, VT 05631

Vermont CARES — Burlington
Phone: 802-863-2437
Address: 139 Bank Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Website: https://vtcares.org

Our team at TPCCV can also connect you or someone you care about to harm reduction information and local resources. You don't need to be enrolled in any program to reach out.