Harm Reduction

Syndemic Theory is a way of understanding or framing how two or more diseases occur together, how these disease interact, and the social conditions which create or allow these interactions to continue.

Drug checking services can prevent overdose by providing people who use drugs (PWUD) with an opportunity to understand the chemical content of their drugs. In this brief report, we share perspectives from clients of drug checking services in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants described how drug checking provided a way of monitoring contaminants, promoted entry into other harm reduction services, and reduced likelihood of overdose.

There were 4,444 HIV diagnosis in California in 2021. Of those, 12% were among women. Black/African American and Latinx are disproportionately impacted.

Infographic Pharmacist-initiated naloxone and syringe furnishing in California January 18, 2024 Infographic highlighting some of the results from the 2022 California Pharmacist Survey. Pharmacists were asked about their furnishing of naloxone and syringe without an outside provider’s prescription. Includes some policy implications.   — Image by Freepik Download Authors Northern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center

Paper “Am I going to have to run to get out of this place?” A qualitative study exploring HIV clinical and service provider experiences from California regions heavily impacted by climate disaster October 25, 2023 In California, disaster events and extreme conditions caused by climate change are becoming more frequent and intense, impacting many regions […]

Infographic Modeling the Impact of Supervised Consumption Sites on HIV and HCV Transmission among People who Inject Drugs in Three California Counties October 11, 2023 Supervised consumption sites (SCS) are harm reduction programs in which people who inject drugs (PWID) bring their previously obtained drugs to consume in a supervised setting. We modeled the potential […]

Policy Brief An Analysis of the Scientific Evaluation of Orange County’s Discontinued Sterile Syringe Distribution Program and Its Implications for Drug Policy in California August 17, 2023 This brief analyzes the impact of Orange County’s sterile syringe distribution program on client and community outcomes, and also assesses how its impact influenced risk of HIV and […]

Policy Brief Are California pharmacists ready to provide long-acting injectable pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention? July 31, 2023 A new CHPRC analysis finds strong potential to increase access to long-acting injectable forms of HIV prevention in California pharmacies. Pharmacists surveyed were highly supportive of pharmacy-based PrEP provision under Senate Bill 159, and more […]

Full Report Risk of Criminalization Among Sex Workers Carrying Condoms June 7, 2023 People who engage in sex work (PESW) are particularly vulnerable to criminalization even when seeking to report experiencing victimization. The health and safety of those engaged in sex work is further jeopardized as condoms have been historically used as evidence of sex […]

Policy Brief HIV and the Role of Federal Funds for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Serving Women in California February 16, 2023 Sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights (SRHR) are integral to gender equity, HIV prevention, and the provision of high-quality services for people of all genders living with HIV (PLWH).1 Sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) […]