Harm Reduc­tion

In Prac­tice

• We acknowl­edge that an absti­nence-based mod­el of recov­ery works for some peo­ple but not everyone.
• We do not want con­tin­ued use to be a bar­ri­er to engag­ing in treat­ment. Absti­nence from sub­stances is not a require­ment to seek help with us.
• We offer an absti­nence group for those whose goal is to stop using entire­ly. This group offers an envi­ron­ment in which mem­bers are expect­ed to com­mit to not using substances.
• We offer a harm-reduc­tion group in which active sub­stance use is not a bar­ri­er to treat­ment. These groups include indi­vid­u­als whose cur­rent goal may not include absti­nence from substances.
• All of our pro­grams pri­or­i­tize indi­vid­ual self-deter­mi­na­tion in iden­ti­fy­ing treat­ment goals. We build sup­port­ive, non-judg­men­tal rela­tion­ships to help clients devel­op and move toward their cho­sen goals.
• We use group, indi­vid­ual, and fam­i­ly ses­sions to sup­port the client in mak­ing informed choic­es and to pro­vide edu­ca­tion on a vari­ety of top­ics, such as healthy rela­tion­ships, safer use, phys­i­cal well­ness, and skills for cop­ing with urges and cravings.
• We pro­vide harm reduc­tion sup­plies and con­nect clients with SMART Recov­ery groups that sup­port long-term recovery.

Nalox­one Train­ing + Supplies

What is Naloxone

Nalox­one is a med­ica­tion admin­is­tered for known or sus­pect­ed opi­oid over­dose. Nax­olone is used to treat a nar­cot­ic over­dose in an emer­gency sit­u­a­tion to enable breath­ing while one is expe­ri­enc­ing an over­dose from opi­oids, hero­in, fen­tanyl, or fen­tanyl ana­log. If you or an indi­vid­ual that you know is at risk of opi­oid over­dose, Nalox­one may save their life! 

Nalox­one is avail­able in four var­i­ous meth­ods: injectable, auto-injec­­tor, intranasal and nasal spray. Nalox­one is avail­able over the counter or dis­trib­uted freely by orga­ni­za­tions. We rec­om­mend keep­ing Nax­olone kits in your med­i­cine cab­i­net and car­ry­ing them with you when you go out.

• How Nalox­one Works: (Watch on Youtube)
  
• How to Use Nalox­one Nasal Spray: (Watch on Youtube)

Nalox­one Training:

What will par­tic­i­pants learn:

• How to iden­ti­fy an overdose

• How to admin­is­ter Naloxone

• Res­cue response

Par­tic­i­pants will receive two Free dos­es of Naloxone.

Down­load the 5‑Step Nalox­one poster

GET NALOX­ONE

For more infor­ma­tion about Nalox­one or to sched­ule an indi­vid­ual or group train­ing, please email:

recoveryresources@​kennethyoung.​org or call 224−229−7456.

Oth­er Nalox­one Loca­tions to obtain Naloxone

Nalox­one and Nalox­one train­ing is avail­able at no cost to you. 

Free Drug Test­ing Strips

Test­ing drugs before poten­tial use is a harm reduc­tion method used to test the pres­ence of var­i­ous sub­stances in drugs such as hero­in, cocaine, and even MDMA. If the strip deter­mines that there are oth­er drugs in the sub­stance, the per­son using the sub­stance can decide whether or not they want to use the sub­stance, use with a Nax­olone res­cue kit near­by, use less of the sub­stance, or anoth­er option that would be safer. 

Test strips can be used to test injectable drugs, pow­ders, and pills. Being aware of the sub­stances that may be present allows peo­ple to imple­ment appro­pri­ate harm-reduc­tion strate­gies to reduce the risk of an overdose.

Cur­rent test­ing strips avail­able for free at Ken­neth Young Center: 

• Fen­tanyl Test­ing Stips
  
• Ben­zo­di­azepine Test Strips
• Xylazine Test Strip

For free test strips, con­tact recoverysupportservices@​kennethyoung.​org or call 224−229−7456

Test­ing strips are avail­able at no cost to you. 

Free Con­dom + Lubrication

Ken­neth Young Cen­ter offers Free Con­doms and Lubri­ca­tion. We cur­rent­ly offer:

• Inter­nal Condoms
• Exter­nal Condoms
• Den­tal Dams
• Sil­i­cone Lube
• Water-Based Lube

For Free con­doms and lubri­ca­tion, con­tact recoverysupportservices@​kennethyoung.​org or call 224−229−7456

Con­doms and Lubri­ca­tion are avail­able at no cost to you. 

Free HIV Test­ing +PrEP education

Ken­neth Young Cen­ter offers free rapid HIV test­ing and nav­i­ga­tion ser­vices. This is a 15-minute rapid HIV test that can indi­cate the poten­tial pres­ence of HIV.

For more infor­ma­tion about HIV test­ing, PrEP edu­ca­tion, Free Con­doms and Lube, or to sched­ule an indi­vid­ual or group test­ing ses­sion with an STI & HIV peer advo­cate con­tact: recoverysupportservices@​kennethyoung.​org or call 224−229−7456

HIV test­ing and Prep edu­ca­tion are avail­able at no cost to you. 

Con­tact Us

To receive sup­plies, more infor­ma­tion, or to sched­ule an an appoint­ment, please email:

recoveryresources@​kennethyoung.​org or call 224−229−7456.