Being Alive expands syringe program hours

Being Alive, HIV/AIDS service organization, announces expansion of the service hours in West Hollywood for its Syringe Servicing Program (SSP). The new hours are every Saturday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. behind the AHF Pharmacy, 8212 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

Being Alive’s mission is ending HIV. This includes keeping our HIV+ family healthy, informed, and in care. It also means eliminating new HIV infections. We are reaching out to the community to help stem the rising number HIV infection rates which has been driven by the current opioid and crystal meth epidemics. This community engagement approach can lead to decreases in transmission rates of HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs along with increases in utilization of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs. Our partnership with over 100 agencies helps us deliver a wide range of services to our clients helping them become self-sufficient, self-reliant, and engaged in self-advocacy.

Being Alive’s SSP is a community-based HIV harm reduction program providing a wide range of services including: linkage to SUD treatment; access to sterile syringes and disposal of used injection equipment; safer smoking equipment; overdose education; Narcan distribution; HIV testing; condoms and PrEP resources and linkage to care and treatment for other infectious diseases. Our SSP has a focus on people who inject drugs, but also individuals who use insulin, hormones, steroids, or other injectable treatments are welcome to exchange and dispose of
needles with Being Alive LA too.

Community SSPs protect the public and first responders by facilitating the safe disposal of used needles and used injection equipment. Providing testing, counseling, and sterile injection supplies also helps prevent outbreaks of other infectious diseases. Nearly thirty years of research shows that comprehensive SSPs are safe, effective, and cost saving, do not increase illegal drug use or crime, and play an important role in reducing the transmission of infectious
diseases.

Being Alive’s SSP has been operating in partnership with AHF at their location in West Hollywood since October 2020 and is funded by grants from the city of West Hollywood, the city of Los Angeles, and the California Department of Public Health.