Syringe Services Programs (SSP)

Syringe Services Programs (SSP) provide services to reduce the harms associated with drug use and prevent HIV and viral hepatitis infections. SSPs use a community-driven approach and practical strategies to help minimize the potential negative health impacts associated with drug use. These programs call for a non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services; meeting people who use drugs (PWUD) where they are; providing person-centered services; and offering comprehensive harm reduction services.

• Reducing harms associated with substance use disorder through syringe service programs and syringe access (PDF)
  Infographic about the benefits of syringe services programs.
• Your Life Matters - Reduce the Harms of Drug Use (PDF)
  This 11x17 poster is intended for public spaces such as bathrooms at libraries, grocery stores, community centers, and laundromats, or other places to reach people at risk of overdosing.
  It has information about reducing the harms associated with drug use, overdose prevention, and services offered at SSPs. The poster has a blank space to write in or add a sticker with the contact information of the nearest SSP, as well as a QR code linking to the SSP calendar.
• Northpoint: Harm reduction and testing services
  Information about this and other exchange sites.

SSP Guidance, Fact Sheets, and Resources:

• Laws Affecting People Who Use Drugs (PDF)
  Information on legislative items that provide some protections against criminal prosecution and reduce the harms of drug use in all communities.
• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Substance Use Disorder (PDF)
  The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on how to adapt SBIRT services (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) to Syringe Services Programs.
• Drug Overdose Prevention
  Information on opioid overdose, how to get and use naloxone to reverse an overdose, Steve's Law, and other resources.
• Harm Reduction Assessment (PDF)
  Each drug use circumstance has different conditions and different strategies to reduce the harms of the drug use. Overdose prevention means preventing the harms associated with each unique drug use circumstance.
• Needle Gauge Resource List: common uses for needle by gauge size (PDF)
  Needles come in various gauges and lengths. This resource comes from the Harm Reduction Coalition and Syringe Services Programs in Minnesota. This serves as a starting point, individual preferences may vary.
• Novel Substances (PDF)
  Novel substances are novel, or new, substances not previously identified by drug experts and include illicit drugs and counterfeit prescription medications.
• Responding to Secondary Trauma Exposure (PDF)
  Working within a Syringe Services Program (SSP) is rewarding work, but staff may require extra support due to secondary trauma. This document provides resources for staff of SSPs including information on supervision, team support, case consultation, self-care, quality improvement, and critical incident debriefing.
• Suicidal Ideation Risk Assessment (PDF)
  This document can be a tool to provide steps and resources for working with people who may be exploring thoughts of suicide.
• Wound Care (PDF)
  People who inject drugs are likely to experience wounds and infection related to their injection drug use. Preventing and caring for wounds in people who inject drugs requires special consideration of the conditions surrounding drug use.