Will ‘Harm Reduction’ curb dangers of drug use in WeHo?

West Hollywood is banking on a controversial strategy to fight rampant drug addiction on the city’s streets and the homelessness crisis with which it’s entwined.

The doctrine of “harm reduction” guides several of the city’s top social services initiatives, including the new needle exchange center, the forthcoming Holloway Interim Housing Program and city contractors such as WeHo Life, which provides condoms, lubricants, fentanyl test strips, and drink-spiking test strips, as well as educational materials and engagement. 

Harm reduction is a public health approach intended to reduce the negative effects of drug use, such as overdoses and the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C, through measures such as providing clean needles, safe spaces for drug use and naloxone, a medication that can reverse overdoses. The goal is to make drug use safer for those who continue to use drugs without requiring them to stop using​.

The approach gained traction during the 1980s and 1990s, helping to reduce the spread of HIV among drug users in New York and San Francisco.  Despite its successes, the movement has been fraught with controversy. Critics claim these programs inadvertently encourage drug use by making it safer, and they express concern that harm reduction could detract from efforts to promote abstinence-based treatment and recovery. Communities arguing that harm reduction services, such as syringe exchanges and supervised consumption sites, contribute to an increase in drug-related activity in their neighborhoods have been at the forefront of public pushback. Legal challenges have also emerged, particularly around supervised consumption sites, with opponents arguing that these facilities violate federal drug laws.

The West Hollywood Harm Reduction Center, operated by Being Alive every Tuesday through Saturday from 1-5 P.M., officially opened its doors to the public on July 9 at 7976 Santa Monica Blvd. (next to Candlerium) offering syringe exchange, overdose prevention, health education, art therapy, and comprehensive support services. Being Alive has subleased a portion of the center to Healthcare in Action, enhancing coordination in serving injection drug users and individuals living with or at risk of HIV.

The Syringe Services Program at the center is particularly focused on supporting people who inject drugs. However, individuals who use injectable treatments such as insulin, hormones, or steroids are also welcome to exchange and dispose of needles safely. The program provides a safe space for participants to access free sterile needles, safe disposal, overdose treatment, and education. Additional resources include HIV testing, referrals to treatment, and access to condoms and PrEP. The program also offers referrals to free or low-cost mental health services and substance use disorder treatments, including rehabilitation. 

“We realize that people are going to use drugs no matter what,” Timothy Zinbeck of Being Alive said. “So we step in and say, ‘If you’re going to use drugs, here are the steps you need to take to minimize or reduce the harms that can come to you.'”

The harm reduction philosophy of the center, Zinbeck said, acknowledges that drug use will continue despite legal and social efforts to stop it.  He highlighted the cost-effectiveness and public health benefits of needle exchange programs, noting that while the cost to run such a program is minimal, the potential savings in healthcare costs are significant.

“One person getting HIV can cost taxpayers, if they’re not well insured, upwards of $120,000 to $160,000 a year,” he said. “We can run a needle exchange for basically $20 to $30 a person for a year.”

The Holloway facility has generated trepidation in the surrounding neighborhood over its embrace of harm reduction. Drug use will be forbidden at the interim housing facility, but residents will not be expelled from the program if they are discovered using or possessing drugs on the premises. 

Zinbeck shared that public reactions to his program’s harm reduction strategies have been largely positive, with many community members expressing gratitude for the service.

“Even some of the people who question if we’re promoting drug use come to understand our purpose after we engage in conversation,” he said.

The Harm Reduction Center is also a safe disposal site for anyone with used needles — whether from drug use, insulin, or other medications.

“Anyone who uses needles, whether it’s for insulin, steroids, hormones, or even pet medications, can bring their used needles to us, and we will dispose of them properly,” Zinbeck said.