What is harm reduction?
Harm reduction is a compassionate and evidence-based approach that focuses on keeping people who use drugs safe and prioritises people’s health and dignity. We believe that everyone deserves access to advice, care and respect, whether they use drugs or not.
Harm reduction saves lives. By providing naloxone and advice around safer use, harm reduction reduces the risk of drug related deaths, prevents the spread of infections, and provides access to health care.
Beyond being a health care initiative, the bottom line of harm reduction is about providing people with respect and dignity. We see people as people, not as a problem or a behaviour.
Harm reduction services
Overdose awareness and naloxone
Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by helping someone to start breathing again. Naloxone is harmless if there are no opioids present. Anyone in the UK can carry and administer naloxone for the purpose of saving a life.
To access a naloxone kit:
- Visit your local Turning Point hub
- Ask your local pharmacy
- Order one through our Naloxone Click and Deliver service
Needle and Syringe Programmes
Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) provide access to free sterile injecting equipment, safer injecting advice and safe disposal options. NSPs reduce the risk of blood borne viruses and bacterial infections and promote safer use through more informed practice.
At our NSPs you will be able to access a variety of equipment such as needles, syringes, Vit C, Citric, sterilising swabs, cookers, naloxone, foil and more.
We currently provide NSP through a variety of routes:
- NSP at Turning Point sites
- Community pharmacy NSP
- NSP Direct – a free and discreet delivery service to access safer injecting equipment to your home
Speaking without stigma
Language matters – it can have a big impact on how we feel and how we view ourselves and others. We are committed to doing all we can to reduce stigma through the support we provide, in communities we work in and wider society.
Rooted in principles of harm reduction, Turning Point’s Speaking without Stigma guide is designed to highlight the significant role that language plays when it comes to people who use drugs. Our guide was co-produced with people with lived experiences and Turning Point colleagues.
Substance Cards
We’ve created a new series of substance information cards, designed to share clear, current information and reliable harm reduction advice to help keep you informed and safe.
The cards have been written by our expert teams and shaped by those with lived experience, meaning it’s advice you can trust.
Get your free digital or print ready versions below.
