Overdose Awareness Day 2024: together, we can decrease overdose in our community

At Evergreen, we’re committed to decreasing the number of overdoses in the communities we serve. We follow a harm reduction model of caring for people who use drugs, meaning that we provide the tools and services needed for our patients to reach their goals, and we welcome everyone no matter what their needs are. We celebrate all victories, big and small; empower our patients to make their own health and wellness decisions; and we don’t require patients to abstain from using drugs to receive our services.

Emma Fabian, associate vice president of harm reduction at Evergreen, explains that the harm reduction model of caring for people who use drugs is about “providing care to people in an effort to reduce the potentially negative consequences of a behavior like drug use. And that involves having staff and services who can meet them where they’re at.”

Our commitment to decreasing overdose

We’re committed to decreasing overdose in our community through unconditional care. If you use drugs, whether you want to use more safely, reduce your use, or stop using, we’re here to help you reduce your risk of overdosing and meet your individual goals.

We know that people who use drugs are whole people with individual needs and stories, and that no problem stands on its own. That’s why in addition to harm reduction and medical services, we also help people who use drugs address the other factors in their life that impact their health, like access to housing, healthy food, and facilities with laundry and showers.

Syringe Exchange Program

Our walk-in syringe exchange centers in Buffalo and Jamestown offer clean needles and injection tools, overdose prevention training, and safer injection counseling with healthcare professionals and certified peers.

You can walk into the syringe exchange center and get:

• free syringes and injection works – use a fresh one each time
• a place for you to return used equipment
• safety guide for handling and disposal of sharps
• overdose prevention training
• free Narcan/Naloxone kits and test strips
• safer injection counseling
• walk-in wound care
• individual and group counseling
• connections to medical care and substance use treatment
• connections to a certified peer recovery specialist
• HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment

We also offer mobile syringe exchange services throughout Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, Lockport, and Buffalo – call or text us at 716.482.9633 to connect with the mobile unit.

Overdose prevention supplies and test strips

We offer free Narcan/Naloxone kits to reverse the effects of overdose from opioids including heroin, fentanyl or prescription pain medications. We also offer free test strips to detect fentanyl and xylazine.

We provide free training on how to use overdose prevention tools – training takes less than 10 minutes. Walk-ins to receive supplies and training are always welcome.

Drop-in services in downtown Buffalo

Our drop-in center is here to support people who use drugs and are experiencing barriers to their health, housing or employment.

The drop-in center is a warm and safe place to shower, do laundry, have refreshments, share support with peers and professionals, and get connected to medical and supportive services that can help you be healthy and meet your goals.

Call our harm reduction team to learn more about the drop-in center

Peer recovery services

Our substance use team includes certified peer recovery specialists: people with similar lived experiences with drug use who can support you through your victories and challenges.

Substance use treatment services

If you use substances and are interested in exploring ways to change your use, our team of medication providers, counselors, peer recovery specialists and nurses will work with you to make a substance use treatment plan around your personal goals. We offer in person or virtual care, on your own terms.

We will help you address any roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching your goals or stressors that lead you to wanting to use, while helping you build a positive support system and learn new skills.

Your individual substance use treatment plan will be tailored to your needs and goals, and can include:

• individual and group counseling
• Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) including low-threshold buprenorphine
• peer recovery services
• other medical, mental health and supportive services

Drug User Health Coalition: guiding Evergreen’s services for people who use drugs

We believe that the people who are best suited to address the overdose crisis in our community are those who are most directly impacted by it. Evergreen’s patients are an important voice behind our services for people who use drugs, and some are members of our Drug User Health Coalition.

The Drug User Health Coalition is a group of people with lived experiences with drug use (past or current) who give us insight into the issues people who use drugs in our community are facing and the services they need most. The Coalition also gives members opportunities to connect with and empower each other, and to make a difference by fighting stigma and advocating for the rights of people who use drugs.

If you’re interested in taking part in the Drug User Health Coalition, call 716.847.2441 (press option 3).

Our Syringe Exchange Centers in Buffalo and Jamestown welcome walk-ins. Stop by or call us at 716.847.2441 (press option 3) to learn more about our syringe exchange program, harm reduction services, and substance use treatment services.