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Drugs and Alcohol

Harm Reduction Advice

At Inspire, we put harm reduction first and meet people where they are at.

We offer a range of support to reduce harm and help people stay safe, including a range of ways to access naloxone, opioid substitution, and access to safer injecting advice and equipment. Reducing drug related deaths and harm is everyone's business.

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction is a compassionate and evidence-based approach that focuses on keeping people who use drugs safe and prioritises people’s health and dignity. We believe that everyone deserves access to advice, care and respect, whether they use drugs or not.

Harm reduction saves lives. By providing naloxone and advice around safer use, harm reduction reduces the risk of drug related deaths, prevents the spread of infections, and provides access to health care.

Beyond being a health care initiative, the bottom line of harm reduction is about providing people with respect and dignity. We see people as people, not as a problem or a behaviour.

Harm reduction services

Overdose awareness and naloxone

Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by helping someone to start breathing again. Naloxone is harmless if there are no opioids present. Anyone in the UK can carry and administer naloxone for the purpose of saving a life.

To access a naloxone kit:

  • Visit your local Inspire hub
  • Ask your local pharmacy
  • Order one through our Naloxone Click and Deliver service

Needle and Syringe Programmes

Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) provide access to free sterile injecting equipment, safer injecting advice and safe disposal options. NSPs reduce the risk of blood borne viruses and bacterial infections and promote safer use through more informed practice.

At our NSPs you will be able to access a variety of equipment such as needles, syringes, Vit C, Citric, sterilising swabs, cookers, naloxone, foil and more.

We currently provide NSP through a variety of routes:

  • NSP at Inspire sites
  • Community pharmacy NSP
  • NSP Direct – a free and discreet delivery service to access safer injecting equipment to your home

Substance Cards

We’ve created a new series of substance information cards, designed to share clear, current information and reliable harm reduction advice to help keep you informed and safe.

The cards have been written by our expert teams and shaped by those with lived experience, meaning it’s advice you can trust.

Get your free digital or print ready versions below.