DOH

Harm Reduction Centers

Harm Reduction Centers (HRCs) — also known as Syringe Access Programs — are community-based programs that provide safe, trauma-informed, and non-stigmatizing spaces for people who use drugs.

At HRCs, clients can:

• Get sterile syringes, needles, and injection equipment
• Access naloxone (Narcan), the life-saving overdose reversal drug
• Learn about safer use, overdose prevention, and safe disposal of used equipment
• Exchange used syringes for new sterile ones

HRCs reduce the spread of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases, and lower the risk of overdose deaths. Services are available at both mobile and fixed sites. Some HRCs are housed in Drop-In Centers, which may also offer food, restrooms, showers, laundry, phone access, and computer services.

About HRCs

New Jersey's HRCs help bridge critical gaps in health care services for people who inject drugs (PWID). They provide access to:

• Health screenings,
• Pregnancy testing and linkage to prenatal care
• Nutritional counseling
• Reproductive counseling for women of childbearing age
• Vaccinations
• Condom distribution and safe sex education
• Safe injection practices and wound care
• Drug overdose prevention and reversal.
  
  

Each Harm Reduction Center has a Harm Reduction Health Nurse who provides reproductive and preventive care services.

HRC Rules (Applying to Become a HRC)

Entities interested in applying to become an NJDOH-recognized Harm Reduction Center should reference the rules below and corresponding appendices for application instructions.

Applications should be completed using Adobe Acrobat Reader and may be submitted to HRC@doh.nj.gov. Notice of approval or denial will be provided to applicants within 30 business days of submission.

• New Harm Reduction Center Rules - PDF
  • Note: The official versions of any departmental rulemaking activity (notices of proposal or adoption) are published in the New Jersey Register and/or the New Jersey Administrative Code. Should there be any discrepancies between this document and the official version of the proposal or adoption, the official version will govern.
• Harm Reduction Center Registration Application (Appendix A)
• Harm Reduction Center Membership Card (Appendix B)

Harm Reduction Health (Nurse Program)

Harm Reduction Health (formerly ARCH) places licensed registered nurses at every HRC to provide specialized care and support. The program’s primary mission is to identify pregnant clients at high risk for HIV infection and engage them in prenatal care.

Harm Reduction Health Nurses provide:

• Reproductive health counseling
• Pregnancy and STD testing, with referrals to prenatal and specialty care
• HIV prevention, including PrEP referrals
• Adult vaccinations
• Safer injection education and wound care consultations
• Referrals for preconception, prenatal, and HIV specialty care
• HIV and viral hepatitis testing and counseling with linkage to medical care
• Overdose prevention education and access to naloxone (Narcan)
• Education on safe disposal of injection equipment
  
  

View the Harm Reduction Health Nurse Directory

Resource Materials & Videos

Resources

• NJ Harm Reduction Coalition
• New Jersey Harm Reduction Centers Biennial Report 2022-2024
• New Jersey Harm Reduction Centers Biennial Report 2020-2021
  
  

Videos

NJDOH 2020 Harm Reduction Campaign

NJDOH’s “Fighting Stigma to End the Overdose Epidemic” workshop.

Hear from Harm Reduction Center staff and partners about how these programs save lives, protect health, and reduce stigma. (opens on Twitter).