West Michigan’s Comprehensive Harm Reduction Program

(Needle Exchange)

CleanWorks is known as the only “needle exchange” program in West Michigan. We prefer to call it “a comprehensive harm reduction program with a syringe exchange component.”

Harm reduction is the philosophy that we can meet people where they are and encourage them to take small steps to reduce the harm to themselves and others. Harm reduction strategies range from wearing a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle to providing clean syringes to people in our community who use intravenous drugs. We provide the latter. We believe that many people who use intravenous drugs are not ready, willing or able to stop using drugs, so we provide a safe, confidential space for them to obtain the knowledge and tools to prevent a life-threatening situation. Much like wearing a seatbelt when driving in a car makes that activity a little safer, using a sterile syringe for each and every injection makes intravenous drug use a little safer. At Clean Works we seek to provide access to clean syringes and other injection supplies so that the participants in our program can follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and only use each syringe once.

“Dirty” needles and syringes are instruments that can transmit HIV and Hep C as well as other infections. In Kent County alone, about 26% of people living with HIV/AIDS were infected by sharing dirty needles. It has also been estimated that 30 – 70% of all people who use intravenous drugs have been infected with hepatitis C, and in fact, one new person tests positive for the hepatitis C virus almost every day in Kent County. This is not acceptable and our organization is determined to change these statistics, one person at a time.

Shockingly, we have also discovered that Kent County has an astonishing rate of overdose deaths (this is the second leading cause of accidental death for citizens under 65 years of age). These deaths often involve the overdose of opiates, so we now offer training for participants in our Clean Works program in how to prevent and respond to opiate overdoses.

Our approach is non-judgmental and we believe everyone, regardless of his or her drug use or sexual practices, should be treated with dignity.

The Clean Works comprehensive harm reduction program is open from 6 to 8 pm Monday and Thursday nights at 54 South Division Ave. in Grand Rapids.

We offer syringe exchange, harm reduction counseling, skills building, safer shot supplies, safer sex supplies, hepatitis C testing, substance use disorder referrals, overdose prevention and intervention trainings, basic hygiene products, and educational materials.

All services are free and confidential.

Contact Stephen Alsum for more information.
(616)456-9063
steve@redproject.org