Wyoming Statewide Harm Reduction Initiative
Increasing Access to Harm Reduction Services in Rural-Frontier States
In partnership with the Wyoming State Health Department
Rural and frontier regions face rising overdose and hepatitis C infection rates. These underserved communities have limited access to harm reduction programs that support the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs.
The Wyoming Statewide Harm Reduction Initiative, a partnership between National Harm Reduction Coalition and the Wyoming State Health Department, is committed to increasing access to services in Wyoming regions, beginning with a two-year statewide initiative in Wyoming.
We’re developing a roadmap to adapt harm reduction strategies to regions that may be newer to harm reduction or face great geographic barriers to services. This work will maintain a specific eye on the health and needs of tribal communities.
Building Capacity with Wyoming Healthcare Providers
Wyoming has an opportunity to reduce overdose, hepatitis C, and HIV by building community awareness and a network of harm reduction services for people who use drugs.
Wyoming Statewide Harm Reduction Initiative is working with providers across the state to build capacity and understanding of harm reduction approaches to drug-related harms. This partnership will:
Develop a network of harm reduction services for people who use drugs
Reduce opioid overdoses, hepatitis C and HIV
Expand access to syringe services and naloxone kits
Increase community awareness about evidence-based harm reduction strategies
Expand access to syringe services and naloxone kits
Focus on unique needs and considerations for tribal communities to build resources and capacity
Established a Statewide Harm Reduction Coalition in 2020
We established a thriving statewide harm reduction coalition that centers the voices of people impacted by drug use. Throughout 2020, we:
Listened to people who use drugs to learn about needs and experiences related to drug use
Mapped out the service landscape to promote care coordination
Spoke to providers to identify opportunities and barriers to expand services
Offered remote and in-person training and technical assistance on best practices and evidence-based strategies
Hosted convenings to offer education on harm reduction values, stigma, and community collaboration
Identified the structural, organizational, and community-level strategies and actions necessary to create supportive environments for harm reduction
Connect with Rural Frontier Harm Reduction Leaders
Are you in Wyoming and interested in getting involved?
Contact Tanagra Melgarejo,
National Director of Capacity Building and Engagement, at
melgarejo@harmreduction.org
Starting a Syringe Service Program in Your Community
Evidence-based harm reduction strategies are effective no matter where you live. But the needs of people who use drugs in small rural communities can differ from those in urban environments.
Here is a resource to help you start a syringe service program in your community.
Resources Specific to Tribal Communities
Native populations face substantially higher rates of drug and substance use disorder. At the same time, they often face bigger barriers when it comes to accessing health care and human services.
Here are some specific resources to help support tribal communities in your state.