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.
Find services
Find syringe service programs, infectious disease screening, wound care, naloxone distribution, and low barrier drop-in medication initiation service locations.-
1Blue Mountain Heart to Heart911 S. Auburn StreetKennewick99336Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Thursday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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2Tacoma Needle ExchangeEast 32nd and Portland Ave Puyallup WAWA98404Hours: Thursdays 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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3Columbia River Mental Health Services7105 NE 40th StVancouver98661Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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4Clark County Harm Reduction Services1010 Grand BlvdVancouver98661Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
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5Cowlitz Family Health Center Harm Reduction Program621 Grade StreetKelso98626Hours: Fridays 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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6Northeast Tri County Health District Syringe Services Program147 N Clark Suite 1,Republic99166Hours: Monday 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
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7Grant County Syringe Services Program1038 W Ivy StMoses Lake98837Hours: Wednesday 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
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8Blue Mountain Heart to Heart1368 Bridge Street, Suite AClarkston99403Hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:00pm – 5:00pm
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9Clallam County Harm Reduction Health Center111 E 3rd StPort Angeles98362Hours: Tuesday 10:00am - 3:00pm, Friday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
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10Share Outreach and Syringe Services Program1115 W 13th StVancouver98661Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11:30am -1:00pm
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11Clallam County Harm Reduction Health Center140 C St SWForks98331Hours: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (except holidays) 10:00am to 3:00pm
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12Willapa Behavioral Health516 E First StAberdeen98520Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm to 4:00pm
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13Island County Human Services SSP5475 Maxwelton Rd #125Langley98260Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm to 4:00pm
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14Island County Human Services SSP1791 NE 1st AveOak Harbor98277Hours: Wednesday 11:00am – 3:30pm
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15Jefferson County Public Health Syringe Exchange Program615 Sheridan StPort Townsend98368Hours: Monday and Friday 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Wednesday 11:00am -1:00pm
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16Hepatitis Education Project1621 Jackson St, Suite 201Seattle98144Hours: Monday -Thursday 12:30pm -5:30pm
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17King County Needle Exchange2124 4th AveSeattle98121Hours: Monday - Friday 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
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18King County Needle Exchange1161 11th AveSeattle98122Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 6:30pm - 8:30pm
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19People's Harm Reduction Alliance4548 Brooklyn Ave NESeattle98105Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Friday and Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm
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20People's Harm Reduction Alliance8300 Aurora Ave NSeattle98103Hours: Monday 1:30pm - 5:30pm
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21Penninsula Community Health616 6th StBremerton98337Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 11:00am and 2:00pm - 4:00pm
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22Harm Reduction Never Share Syringe Service Program210 N Ruby StEllensburg98926Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm
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23Gather Church Harm ReductionW Reynolds Ave & Johnson RdCentralia98531Hours: Wednesday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
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24Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County71 NE Old Belfair HwyBelfair98528Hours: Tuesday 11:00am - 1:00pm
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25Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County19670 N Hwy 101 in the Skokomish Nation (empty lot about a quarter of a mile north of Lucky Dog Casino)Skokomish98584Hours: Tuesday 2:00am to 4:00pm
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26Substance Use Mobile Outreach of Mason County3850 SE Old Olympic Hwy (empty lot adjacent to the Kamilche Trading Post Express gas station)Shelton98584Hours: Thursday 11:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm
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27Okanogan Syringe Exchange Program1234 S 2nd AveOkanogan98840Hours: Friday 12:30pm to 4:30pm
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28Northeast Tri County Harm Reduction Safe Syringe Services Program605 Hwy 20Newport99156Hours: Tuesday 1:30pm to 3:30pm
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29Tacoma Needle Exchange3716 Pacific Ave, Suite FTacoma98418Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11:00am - 4:00pm, Friday 1:00pm - 6:00pm
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30Tacoma Needle ExchangeS 14th and G StTacoma98405Hours: Wednesday 1:00pm - 6:00pm
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31Point Defiance AIDS Project Needle Exchange37th St and Pacific AveTacoma98418Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00am - 4:00pm
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32Tacoma Needle ExchangeE 32nd and Portland AvePuyallup98404Hours: Thursday 11:00am - 3:00pm
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33Skagit County Public Health2021 Market StMount Vernon98273Hours: Tuesday 9:00am - 12:00pm
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34Skagit County Public Health1401 Cleveland AveMount Vernon98273Hours: Thursday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
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35Skagit County Public HealthSedro-Wooley2000 Hospital Dr98284Hours: Tuesday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
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36Skagit County Public Health715 Pacific StSedro-Woolley98284Hours: Thursday 9:00am - 11:00am
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37Skagit County Public Health701 E Fairhaven AveBurlington98233Hours: Thursday 12:00pm - 1:30pm
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38Skagit County Public Health45821 Railroad AveConcrete98237Hours: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 1:00pm – 3:00pm
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39Skagit County Public Health3000 R AveAnacortes98221Hours: 3rd Monday of the month 10:00am – 12:00pm
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40Sound Pathways Syringe Services Program1625 E Marine View Dr, Suite #4Everett98201Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12:00pm – 6:00pm, Thursday 12:00pm - 7:00pm
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41Spokane Regional Health District Syringe Services Program1101 W College Ave, Room 155Spokane99201Hours: Monday – Friday, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
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42Northeast Tri County Harm Reduction Safe Syringe Services Program240 E DominionColville99114Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 1:30pm to 3:30pm
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43Thurston County Syringe Services Program1000 Cherry St SEOlympia98501Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12:00pm to 5:00pm
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44Emma Goldman Youth & Homeless Outreach Project (EGYHOP)Washington St and State StOlympia98501Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 6:30pm – 8:30pm
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45Blue Mountain Heart to Heart1903 E Isaacs AveWalla Walla99362Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm
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46Whatcom County SSP1511 N State StBellingham98225Hours: Monday and Thursday 2:00pm - 4:00pm
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47Whatcom County SSP8251 Kendall RdMaple Falls98266Hours: Monday 10:30am – 12:00pm
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48Primary Integrated Care Syringe Service Program (Lummi Nation)2592 Kwina RdBellingham98226Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
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49Whitman County Public Health SSP1205 SE Pro Mall Blvd, Suite 203Pullman99163Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00am - 5:00pm
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50Whitman County Public Health SSP310 N Main St, Suite 108Colfax99111Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
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51Yakima County Syringe Exchange ProgramS 3rd St and E Adams StYakima98901Hours: Thursday 12:30pm to 3:30pm
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52Seattle Step Clinic1621 S Jackson St #201Seattle98144Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 1:30pm - 3:30pm
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53Rockwood Clinic400 E 5th Ave, Floor 1NSpokane99202Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
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55Oly Bupe Clinic1011 10th St SEOlympia98501Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 4:00pm -5:30pm, Tuesday/Thursday 1:00pm - 2:30pm
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56Summit Pacific Health Clinic579 E. Main StElma98541Hours: Monday through Friday 8am to 3:30pm
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57Cowlitz Tribal Treatment1000 Davis PlDuPont98327Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
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58Tacoma Fire Department CARES Program901 Fawcett AveTacoma98402Hours: 24/7
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59Olympic Peninsula Health Services Port Hadlock661 Ness CornerPort Hadlock98339Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 1pm
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60Olympic Peninsula Health Services Port Angeles1605 E Front St, Suite CPort Angeles98362Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 1pm
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61Lakewood Comprehensive Treatment Center9500 Front St S, Suite 100Lakewood98499Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 1:00pm
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62We Care Daily Mobile Unit329 N 85th StSeattle98103Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm
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63We Care Daily Mobile Unit525 Puyallup AveTacoma98421Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm
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64Stillaguamish Tribe - Quelute Healing Center5700 172nd St NEArlington98223Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 10:00am
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65TPCHD Treatment Services3629 S D StTacoma98418Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:00am - 10:30am
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66Evergreen Treatment Services6700 Martin Way E, Suite 117Olympia98516Hours: Monday - Saturday 5:30am - 10:30am
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67We Care Daily Clinic3320 Auburn Way NAuburn98002Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 6pm, Saturday 5:30am - 10:00am
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68Quil Ceda Creek Counseling Company6330 31st Ave NE, Suite 101Tulalip98271Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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69Evergreen Treatment Services Seattle1700 Aiport Way SSeattle98134Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 8:30am
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70Jamestown Healing Clinic526 S 9th AveSequim98382Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 10:00am
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71Didgwalic Wellness Center8212 S March Point RdAnacortes98221Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30am - 10:00am
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Top resources for patients
About xylazine (aka Tranq)
Understanding the risks, effects, and harm reduction strategies for dealing with the sedative sometimes found in fentanyl and other drugs.
Risks of the unregulated drug supply
The risks and unpredictability of unregulated drugs compared to FDA-approved medications.
Self-compassion, recovery, and positive change
Exploring empowering, kind and compassionate approaches to recovery from opioid use disorder.
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
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About xylazine (aka Tranq)
Understanding the risks, effects, and harm reduction strategies for dealing with the sedative…
-
Risks of the unregulated drug supply
The risks and unpredictability of unregulated drugs compared to FDA-approved medications.
-
Self-compassion, recovery, and positive change
Exploring empowering, kind and compassionate approaches to recovery from opioid use disorder.
-
Using naloxone
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.
