Staying safe

FOR PATIENTS

Staying safe

Every person who uses drugs deserves to be safe. The tools and resources on this page will help you reduce the potential harm from drugs to yourself and others.

Drugs come in varying potencies and even 2 doses from the same batch can be very different. You can use a tester dose to check how potent your drugs are. Take less than you normally would, wait for a few minutes, and see how you feel before taking your full dose. It is safer to not use alone. If someone is with you, they can make sure that you keep breathing for the first 15 minutes after you use and help if you need it. If you are using in a group, consider taking turns so you can monitor one another. If you don’t have someone with you, you can call Never Use Alone at 1-877-696-1996. They’ll stay on the phone or chat with you and won’t call 911 unless you stop responding. It’s totally confidential.

Drugs that are made legally and distributed in a pharmacy or medical setting are regulated, meaning we know what they have in them and what dose or strength they are. Drugs that are made and sold outside of medical settings are unregulated and can contain unexpected substances in unpredictable amounts. Fentanyl is often present in unregulated pills and powders, including stimulants like cocaine, and xylazine can be found in unregulated fentanyl. Drug checking and testing can help you know what you are using. If you don’t have the ability to test your drugs, know that your drugs may contain substances you don’t know about and that can cause unexpected harm.

Naloxone, sometimes called Narcan, reverses opioid overdoses and works on all opioids, including fentanyl. You can get naloxone at a syringe exchange or at a pharmacy. Pharmacies can provide you with naloxone covered by insurance – including Apple Health (Medicaid) – without you having to bring in a prescription. You can buy naloxone over the counter (without insurance), but it may be more expensive.

If you go to an emergency department or behavioral health appointment, Washington state law requires them to offer you naloxone if you are at risk for overdose. If you are not given naloxone to take home, ask about it before you leave.
 

The unregulated drug supply, legal consequences related to drug use, and the social stigma around drugs all increase the risk of harm from using drugs. This includes risks related to physical harm, but also emotional harm such as isolation, depression, anxiety, and low self-worth. Find people and places that treat you with kindness and offer kindness to the people you love who use drugs. You and your loved ones deserve respect, safety, and appropriate care.

Using medications such as buprenorphine or methadone as prescribed drastically cuts down your chances of dying from an overdose. It treats withdrawal symptoms and helps with cravings. You can search our service locator to find drop in medication sites or call the Washington Recovery Help Line 1-800-662-4357 for help setting up an initial appointment. 

  • 1
    Blue Mountain Heart to Heart
    911 S. Auburn Street
    Kennewick
    99336
    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Thursday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • 2
    Tacoma Needle Exchange
    East 32nd and Portland Ave Puyallup WA
    WA
    98404
    Hours: Thursdays 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • 3
    NorthStar Clinic
    7105 NE 40th St
    Vancouver
    98661
    Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • 4
    Clark County Harm Reduction Services
    1010 Grand Blvd
    Vancouver
    98661
    Hours: Monday, Wednesday: 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
  • 5
    Cowlitz Family Health Center Harm Reduction Program
    621 Grade Street
    Kelso
    98626
    Hours: Fridays 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • 6
    Northeast Tri County Health District Syringe Services Program
    147 N Clark Suite 1,
    Republic
    99166
    Hours: Monday 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
  • 7
    Grant County Syringe Services Program
    1038 W Ivy St
    Moses Lake
    98837
    Hours: Wednesday 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM 
  • 8
    Blue Mountain Heart to Heart
    1368 Bridge Street, Suite A
    Clarkston
    99403
    Hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:00pm – 5:00pm
  • 9
    Clallam County Harm Reduction Health Center
    111 E 3rd St
    Port Angeles
    98362
    Hours: Tuesday 10:00am - 3:00pm, Friday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 10
    Share Outreach and Syringe Services Program
    1115 W 13th St
    Vancouver
    98661
    Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11:30am -1:00pm
  • 11
    Clallam County Harm Reduction Health Center
    140 C St SW
    Forks
    98331
    Hours: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (except holidays) 10:00am to 3:00pm
  • 12
    Willapa Behavioral Health
    516 E First St
    Aberdeen
    98520
    Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm to 4:00pm
  • 13
    Island County Human Services SSP
    5475 Maxwelton Rd #125
    Langley
    98260
    Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm to 4:00pm
  • 14
    Island County Human Services SSP
    1791 NE 1st Ave
    Oak Harbor
    98277
    Hours: Wednesday 11:00am – 3:30pm
  • 15
    Jefferson County Public Health Syringe Exchange Program
    615 Sheridan St
    Port Townsend
    98368
    Hours: Monday and Friday 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Wednesday 11:00am -1:00pm
  • 16
    Hepatitis Education Project
    1621 Jackson St, Suite 201
    Seattle
    98144
    Hours: Monday -Thursday 12:30pm -5:30pm
  • 17
    King County Needle Exchange
    2124 4th Ave
    Seattle
    98121
    Hours: Monday - Friday 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 18
    King County Needle Exchange
    1161 11th Ave
    Seattle
    98122
    Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 6:30pm - 8:30pm
  • 19
    People's Harm Reduction Alliance
    4548 Brooklyn Ave NE
    Seattle
    98105
    Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Friday and Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm
  • 20
    People's Harm Reduction Alliance
    8300 Aurora Ave N
    Seattle
    98103
    Hours: Monday 1:30pm - 5:30pm
  • 21
    Penninsula Community Health
    616 6th St
    Bremerton
    98337
    Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 11:00am and 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 22
    Harm Reduction Never Share Syringe Service Program
    210 N Ruby St
    Ellensburg
    98926
    Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • 23
    Gather Church Harm Reduction
    W Reynolds Ave & Johnson Rd
    Centralia
    98531
    Hours: Wednesday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
  • 24
    Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County
    71 NE Old Belfair Hwy
    Belfair
    98528
    Hours: Tuesday 11:00am - 1:00pm
  • 25
    Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County
    19670 N Hwy 101 in the Skokomish Nation (empty lot about a quarter of a mile north of Lucky Dog Casino)
    Skokomish
    98584
    Hours: Tuesday 2:00am to 4:00pm
  • 26
    Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County
    3850 SE Old Olympic Hwy (empty lot adjacent to the Kamilche Trading Post Express gas station)
    Shelton
    98584
    Hours: Thursday 11:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 27
    Okanogan Syringe Exchange Program
    1234 S 2nd Ave
    Okanogan
    98840
    Hours: Friday 12:30pm to 4:30pm
  • 28
    Northeast Tri County Harm Reduction Safe Syringe Services Program
    605 Hwy 20
    Newport
    99156
    Hours: Tuesday 1:30pm to 3:30pm
  • 29
    Tacoma Needle Exchange
    3716 Pacific Ave, Suite F
    Tacoma
    98418
    Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11:00am - 4:00pm, Friday 1:00pm - 6:00pm
  • 30
    Tacoma Needle Exchange
    S 14th and G St
    Tacoma
    98405
    Hours: Wednesday 1:00pm - 6:00pm
  • 31
    Point Defiance AIDS Project Needle Exchange
    37th St and Pacific Ave
    Tacoma
    98418
    Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00am - 4:00pm
  • 32
    Skagit County Public Health
    2021 Market St
    Mount Vernon
    98273
    Hours: Tuesday 9:00am - 12:00pm
  • 33
    Skagit County Public Health
    1401 Cleveland Ave
    Mount Vernon
    98273
    Hours: Thursday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 34
    Skagit County Public Health
    Sedro-Wooley
    2000 Hospital Dr
    98284
    Hours: Tuesday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 35
    Skagit County Public Health
    715 Pacific St
    Sedro-Woolley
    98284
    Hours: Thursday 9:00am - 11:00am
  • 36
    Skagit County Public Health
    701 E Fairhaven Ave
    Burlington
    98233
    Hours: Thursday 12:00pm - 1:30pm
  • 37
    Skagit County Public Health
    45821 Railroad Ave
    Concrete
    98237
    Hours: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  • 38
    Skagit County Public Health
    3000 R Ave
    Anacortes
    98221
    Hours: 3rd Monday of the month 10:00am – 12:00pm
  • 39
    Sound Pathways Syringe Services Program
    1625 E Marine View Dr, Suite #4
    Everett
    98201
    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12:00pm – 6:00pm, Thursday 12:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 40
    Spokane Regional Health District Syringe Services Program
    1101 W College Ave, Room 155
    Spokane
    99201
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
  • 41
    Northeast Tri County Harm Reduction Safe Syringe Services Program
    240 E Dominion
    Colville
    99114
    Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 1:30pm to 3:30pm
  • 42
    Thurston County Syringe Services Program
    1000 Cherry St SE
    Olympia
    98501
    Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12:00pm to 5:00pm
  • 43
    Emma Goldman Youth & Homeless Outreach Project (EGYHOP)
    Washington St and State St
    Olympia
    98501
    Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 6:30pm – 8:30pm
  • 44
    Blue Mountain Heart to Heart
    1903 E Isaacs Ave
    Walla Walla
    99362
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm
  • 45
    Whatcom County SSP
    1511 N State St
    Bellingham
    98225
    Hours: Monday and Thursday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • 46
    Whatcom County SSP
    8251 Kendall Rd
    Maple Falls
    98266
    Hours: Monday 10:30am – 12:00pm
  • 47
    Primary Integrated Care Syringe Service Program (Lummi Nation)
    2592 Kwina Rd
    Bellingham
    98226
    Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
  • 48
    Whitman County Public Health SSP
    1205 SE Pro Mall Blvd, Suite 203
    Pullman
    99163
    Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • 49
    Whitman County Public Health SSP
    310 N Main St, Suite 108
    Colfax
    99111
    Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
  • 50
    Yakima County Syringe Exchange Program
    S 3rd St and E Adams St
    Yakima
    98901
    Hours: Thursday 12:30pm to 3:30pm
  • 51
    Seattle Step Clinic
    1621 S Jackson St #201
    Seattle
    98144
    Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
  • 52
    Rockwood Clinic
    400 E 5th Ave, Floor 1N
    Spokane
    99202
    Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • 53
    DESC
    216 James St
    Seattle
    98104
    Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • 54
    Oly Bupe Clinic
    1011 10th St SE
    Olympia
    98501
    Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 4:00pm -5:30pm, Tuesday/Thursday 1:00pm - 2:30pm
  • 55
    Summit Pacific Health Clinic
    579 E. Main St
    Elma
    98541
    Hours: Monday through Friday 8am to 3:30pm
  • 56
    Cowlitz Tribal Treatment
    1000 Davis Pl
    DuPont
    98327
    Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • 57
    Tacoma Fire Department CARES Program
    901 Fawcett Ave
    Tacoma
    98402
    Hours: 24/7
  • 58
    Olympic Peninsula Health Services Port Hadlock
    661 Ness Corner
    Port Hadlock
    98339
    Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 1pm
  • 59
    Olympic Peninsula Health Services Port Angeles
    1605 E Front St, Suite C
    Port Angeles
    98362
    Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 1pm
  • 60
    Lakewood Comprehensive Treatment Center
    9500 Front St S, Suite 100
    Lakewood
    98499
    Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 1:00pm
  • 61
    We Care Daily Mobile Unit
    329 N 85th St
    Seattle
    98103
    Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm
  • 62
    We Care Daily Mobile Unit
    525 Puyallup Ave
    Tacoma
    98421
    Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm
  • 63
    Stillaguamish Tribe - Quelute Healing Center
    5700 172nd St NE
    Arlington
    98223
    Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 10:00am
  • 64
    TPCHD Treatment Services
    3629 S D St
    Tacoma
    98418
    Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:00am - 10:30am
  • 65
    Evergreen Treatment Services South Sound
    6700 Martin Way E, Suite 117
    Olympia
    98516
    Hours: Monday - Saturday 5:30am - 10:30am
  • 66
    We Care Daily Clinic
    3320 Auburn Way N
    Auburn
    98002
    Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 6pm, Saturday 5:30am - 10:00am
  • 67
    Quil Ceda Creek Counseling Company
    6330 31st Ave NE, Suite 101
    Tulalip
    98271
    Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 68
    Evergreen Treatment Services Seattle
    1700 Aiport Way S
    Seattle
    98134
    Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30 am - 10:30 am
  • 69
    Jamestown Healing Clinic
    526 S 9th Ave
    Sequim
    98382
    Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 10:00am
  • 70
    Didgwalic Wellness Center
    8212 S March Point Rd
    Anacortes
    98221
    Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 10:00am
  • 71
    Olympia Bupe Clinic
    1011 10th St SE
    Olympia
    98501
    Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 4:00 PM - 6:45 PM Tuesday, Thursday: 1:00 PM - 3:45 PM
  • 72
    Evergreen Treatment Services South King County
    1412 SW 43rd Street - Suite 140
    Renton
    98057
    Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30 am - 12:30 pm

Top resources for patients

A prescription medication bottle overflowing with round white pills

About xylazine (aka Tranq)

Understanding the risks, effects, and harm reduction strategies for dealing with the sedative sometimes found in fentanyl and other drugs.

White pills on a chute in a manufacturing facility

Risks of the unregulated drug supply

The risks and unpredictability of unregulated drugs compared to FDA-approved medications.

two smiling young men greeting each other

Self-compassion, recovery, and positive change

Exploring empowering, kind and compassionate approaches to recovery from opioid use disorder.

A vial of naloxone

Using naloxone

Step-by-step guide to effectively using naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, including tips for preparation and post-administration care.

Top resources for patients

  • About xylazine (aka Tranq)

    hospital

    Understanding the risks, effects, and harm reduction strategies for dealing with the sedative…

  • Risks of the unregulated drug supply

    hospital

    The risks and unpredictability of unregulated drugs compared to FDA-approved medications.

  • Self-compassion, recovery, and positive change

    hospital

    Exploring empowering, kind and compassionate approaches to recovery from opioid use disorder.

  • Using naloxone

    hospital

    Step-by-step guide to effectively using naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, including tips for…

Your rights and responsibilities

Substance use disorder is a disability, and discrimination against people with disabilities is unlawful. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities, reasonable accommodations, and how to report a violation.