Muhlenberg County Health Department Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a set of ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance misuse for individuals, their families and communities by meeting people where they are. The practice extends to  many services including disease prevention, syringe exchange, safer use practices and linking people to access to other services that are needed such as substance use treatment and behavioral health services.

MCHD promotes harm reduction by offering an anonymous, free harm reduction program.  Clients of this program bring in their used needles and exchange them for clean syringes and other supplies including, condoms, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone.  We also provide education, referrals to treatment and free anonymous testing for HIV.  Other STI testing services are provided on a confidential basis.

Syringe Exchange Fact Sheet:
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/risk/cdchiv-fs-syringe-services.pdf

Are you at risk for HIV? Get the facts.
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics

See if PrEP (HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) is right for you.
https:www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/factsheets/prep101-consumer-info.pdf

Information on Syringe Exchange in KY:
https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/hab/Pages/kyseps.aspx

Naloxone reverses overdoses. We provide free Naloxone and training to clients of the syringe exchange.  Kentucky Department for Public Health also has a Mobile Pharmacy.

Opioid Overdose & Naloxone instruction sheet Overdose and Naloxone Web (canva.com)

SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Overdose Data | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center

Get vaccinated today to protect yourself from Hepatitis A

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.rtf

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver that can be prevented, while there is no cure you can get a vaccine to prevent the disease.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.rtf
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/populations/idu.htm

Hepatitis C is a serious infection of the liver and is the leading cause of liver cancer.  It is both preventable and curable.  For more information please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm

If you have Hepatitis C and need help please visit http://www.help4hep.org