Public Health’s Harm Reduction Program

• Meeting the client where they are, using programs designed for the community being served.
• Accepts that drug use is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize its harmful effects on the people using drugs, rather than ignore or condemn those individuals.
• Understands that drug use and behavior change are complex and multifaceted.
• They include a continuum of behaviors from severe abuse to total abstinence.
• Affirms that people who inject drugs are the primary agents responsible for reducing the harm from their drug use, and seeks to empower them to support each other and share information.
• Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination and other social inequities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for dealing with drug-related harm.
• Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real or tragic harm and dangers associated with licit and illicit drug use.

Injecting drug users (IDU) now account for one in 10 new HIV infections world-wide. Yet it has been known since the early 1990s that HIV among IDU can be effectively, safely and cost-effectively controlled by the early and vigorous implementation of a comprehensive package of strategies known as 'harm reduction.'

The evidence is overwhelming that harm reduction approaches to HIV & Hepatitis C prevention among injecting drug users are effective, safe and cost-effective. The evidence of effectiveness is strongest for needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution treatment. There is no convincing evidence that needle and syringe programs increase injecting drug use. Countries that have provided extensive needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution treatment appear to have averted an epidemic, stabilized or substantially reduced the prevalence of HIV & Hepatitis C among injecting drug users.

Clatsop County is expanding the Harm Reduction Program with a region-wide initiative to include Columbia and Tillamook counties.

Columbia County

Every Tuesday in St. Helens, 1-3 p.m. at the CC Rider transit center at 1155 Deer Island Rd.

Tillamook County

1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month in Tillamook, 11am-1pm at The IVY Wellness Center, 1105 Ivy Ave

4th Wednesday of the month in Wheeler, 11-1pm above the North County Food Bank, 278 Rowe St - Upper Parking Lot

Clatsop Behavioral Health

Address: 115 W. Bond St, Astoria, OR, 97103

1005 Broadway St., Seaside, OR, 97138

Phone: (503) 325-5722

Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-3pm

24-hour Crisis Line:

Phone: (503) 325-5724

Coastal Family Health Center

Address: 2158 Exchange St. STE 304, Astoria, OR, 97103

Phone: (503) 325-8315

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 7:45am-7:00pm

Fri-Sat: 7:45am-5pm,

Closed 12-1pm for lunch

Seaside Primary Care

Address: 727 S Wahanna Rd. Ste 220, Seaside, OR, 97138

Phone: (503) 717-7060

Hours: Mon-Sat: 7am-5pm

Choices Counseling

Address: 20 Basin Street, Suite 120, Astoria, OR

Phone: (503) 325-4499

CODA

Phone: (503) 239-8400

Central City/Hooper

Address: 1535 N Williams Ave

Portland, OR, 97232

Phone: (503) 238-2067

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm

Columbia Community Mental Health

Address: 58646 McNulty Way,

St. Helens, OR, 97051

Phone: (503) 782-4499 or

(503) 397-5211 ext. 180

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm

Power House Detox

Address: 3955 OR-18,

Otis, OR, 97368

Phone: (541) 614-4437

Hours: Open 24 hours

Awakenings by the Sea

Address: 1325 North Holladay Dr.,

Seaside, OR, 97138

Phone: (800) 923-4673

Hours: Open 24 hours

Women only allowed

Helping Hands Re-entry

Address: 1010 3rd Ave.

Seaside, OR, 97138

Phone: (503) 738-4321

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm

Astoria Rescue Mission

Address: 62 W. Bond St.

Astoria, OR, 97103

Phone: (503) 325-6243

Hours: Open 24 hours

Oxford House

Address: 33322 Patriot Way,

Warrenton, OR, 97146

Phone: (503) 861-8568

Men only allowed

Clatsop Behavioral Health

Address: 115 W. Bond St, Astoria, OR, 97103 

1005 Broadway St., Seaside, OR, 97138

Phone: (503) 325-5722

Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-3pm

24-hour Crisis Line: (503) 325-5724

Choices Counseling LLC

Phone: (503) 325-4499

Potentials LLC

Phone: (503) 325-2398 

Sandalwood Counseling

Phone: (503) 567-5331