Access Harm Reduction

You Are Ready for Your Life to Be Different.
Let’s Get Started!

You reading this may be a sign you want something different, that you are ready for a change. That is a good thing. Whether you realize you have a drug or alcohol use concern, or you know a loved one who does, you have taken a major step: acknowledgment.

Always know you are not alone.

The Access Harm Reduction campaign was created to help the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) residents who are dealing with drug and alcohol use concerns, or have a loved one who is. There is no “type” of person who uses substances. They are from all zip codes, incomes, education levels, ethnicities, and walks of life. Some prefer drugs while others prefer alcohol. What about you?

Examples of Substances

Alcohol substances include beer, liquor, and wine. Drug substances include opioids, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, PCP, LSD, over-the-counter, etc.

What Is a Drug or Alcohol Disorder?

A drug or alcohol disorder is a type of substance use disorder—a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal substance. A person can have one or both disorders.

Signs of a Drug or Alcohol Use Disorder

When a person has a drug or alcohol disorder, there are usually signs that something is changing. Signs differ from person to person, but common signs include:

• Behavior changes
• Appearance or hygiene change
• Weight change, usually weight loss
• Overall health decline
• Poor performance at work or school
• Financial instability

Are any signs familiar? If so, take action to reduce harmful impacts on you or your loved one.

How Heart to Hand Helps

Heart to Hand understands. We focus on education so DMV residents know how drug and alcohol disorders can affect them physically, psychologically, and financially.

Resources to Save Lives

Life is precious. Heart to Hand offers free harm reduction resources that may prevent or reverse an overdose and save a life – even yours. Request the resources online or come to our Largo office for:

• Fentanyl Test Strips

  FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in different drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables).

• Narcan (Naloxone) Opioid Overdose Kits

  Naloxone, known as Narcan, is a safe medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose in people with opioids in their systems. Narcan should be administered to anyone who has opioid overdose signs or when an opioid overdose is suspected. The Narcan Opioid Overdose Kits include:

  • Narcan nasal spray
  • One pair of gloves
  • Alcohol prep pads
  • Purell single wipe
  • One-way face mask
  • Fentanyl strip
  • Maryland Department of Health Good Samaritan Law fact sheet
  • Kit training from a trained Heart to Hand staff member

Meet with a Peer Recovery Specialist

A Peer Recovery Specialist is available with harm reduction services to support people who are working through addiction(s).

The Road to Your Success Will Be Different

Everyone is different. So is the road that leads from where you are now to the life you want. Heart to Hand knows drug and alcohol use disorders can impact each person or their loved one differently. Our approach is personal: designed just for you.

What to Do Next?

Reach out to Heart to Hand now. The Access Harm Reduction campaign includes a proven process to get you from “your right now” to “where you want to be.” It is a process. It is not overnight. There is no magic potion. But the great news is what success looks like for you is within reach! It includes:

1. Consultation
2. Evaluation
3. Education
4. Therapy

We offer programs like individual and group therapy plus support groups to equip you with tools to make positive decisions and cope. A group may just be what you need.

Call Us or Fill Out the Form

Ready? Heart to Hand is ready to support you. We accept most insurances, Medicaid, Medicare, plus options that may be at no cost to you.