Overdose Prevention Resources & Training

City & County of Denver residents have access to three syringe access/harm reduction providers within the city that provide a wide array of services that promote the health and wellness of people who use drugs, including naloxone.

If you are a person who uses drugs needing access to the services these program provide, please contact or visit the programs below:

• AccessPoint (Colorado Health Network): 936 E 18th St Denver, CO 80218, hours Monday- Thursday 1 p.m.- 6 p.m.
• Harm Reduction Action Center: 112 E 8th Ave, Denver, CO 80203, hours Monday- Friday 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
• Lifepoint (Vivent Health): Offers mobile services only. Call 1.800.359.9272

Additional naloxone distribution locations include:

• Wellness Winnie
• Denver Public Libraries 
• AID Center
• Denver Health VENDY Program
• Young People in Recovery Harm Reduction HUBs
• Stout Street Health Center in partnership with the Naloxone Project
• DPD District 2 Station (3921 N. Holly St.)
• DPD District 6 Station (1566 N. Washington St.)
• DPD Police Administration Building (1331 Cherokee St.)

Arapahoe County Harm Reduction Program

Broomfield County

Larimer/Weld Counties

Points West (JeffCo)

Project Connects (Adams County)

The Works Program (Boulder County)

End Overdose

NEXT Distro

National Harm Reduction Coalition

Syringe access programs (SAPs) are evidence-based interventions shown to reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) and do not increase drug use or crime. They meet people where they are to provide an array of services in a safe, anonymous setting. SAPs provide access to healthcare and treat people with dignity and respect, no matter where they are at.

View the 2023 Denver Syringe Access Program Needs Assessment

SAPs have many benefits including:

• creating opportunities to engage people who use substances and linking them to services,
• they are shown to be safe, effective, and cost-saving, 
• they are associated with a 50 percent reduction in HIV and HCV incidence, and
• they provide a source of community connection through advisory groups, education classes, activities, community cleanups, and more.

Participants of SAPs are:

• more likely to safely dispose of needles,
• more likely to reduce or stop injecting, and
• five times more likely to access treatment for substance use.

Recent increases in fatal and non-fatal overdoses, and changing drug supply, have identified an additional need to promote the use of these programs to provide overdose education and naloxone to individuals who use substances but do not inject.

Programs provide a variety of services including:

• Access to sterile syringes and syringe disposal.
• Injection supplies such as cottons, cookers, waters, tourniquets, sharp containers and more.
• Overdose prevention education, including access to naloxone.
• Referrals to substance use treatment and resources for people who want to reduce or eliminate drug use in their life.
• Linkage to care and referrals to HIV and hepatitis C care.
• Harm reduction counseling and substance use education.
• Fentanyl Testing Strips.
• Wound care education.
• Other harm reduction supplies to reduce the impacts of drug use. 
• Safer smoking and snorting supplies such as sterile pipes and multicolored straws to avoid sharing.

Currently, there are three syringe access programs in Denver.

• Access Point: A program of Colorado Health Network and provides services 4 days a week at 936 E 18th St. and provides mobile syringe access services throughout Denver | Walk-in Service Hours: Monday- Thursday 1-6 p.m. | 720-994-2403

• The Harm Reduction Action Center: Operates 5 days a week at 112 E. 8th Ave. and provides mobile syringe access services via street outreach 3 days a week. | Walk-in Service Hours: Monday- Friday 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. | 303-572-7800
• Lifepoint: A program of Vivent Health that provides mobile syringe access services throughout Denver four days a week (and at least one Saturday a month) | 720-385-6898

Because many individuals use substances when alone, there are resources available to ensure someone can respond to a potential overdose. Visit: neverusealone.com to receive anonymous support from a volunteer when you use your substances.

What is Wellness Winnie?

• Wellness Winnie is a “fun size” RV, with scheduled travel route through Denver for the purpose of providing integrated behavioral health and support services.
• Wellness Winnie exists to empower all people in Denver to live their healthiest life and to increase equitable access to resources, helping the community to thrive.
• Wellness Winnie is staffed with mental health counselors and peer navigators. Through shared experiences, peer navigators are skilled to support recovery and mental well-being.

What does Wellness Winnie currently provide?

• Peer support and navigation
• Informal classes and presentations
• Sharps disposal
• Behavioral health screening and assessment
• Active referral to services such as: medical, legal, and social services
• Distribution of items such as: socks, gloves, toiletries, etc.
• Rehydration and cooling from the heat
• Warming from the cold
• Narcan distribution and overdose education

For more information about Wellness Winnie or to locate a stop near you, please visit our Wellness Winnie webpage.

Other harm reduction strategies include testing your substances for the presence of fentanyl or xylazine prior to use. Remember, no test is 100% accurate and user error can happen. Always try to follow the classic harm reduction tips: go slow, never use alone, and carry naloxone

• Guidance on how to test your drugs using fentanyl test strips(PDF, 98KB)

Because drugs purchased on the street can contain unknown substances, it is important to test drugs before using them.

DanceSafe is an organization that promotes health and safety within the electronic music community. They provide a number of resources. They also offer fentanyl test strips for purchase.

UNC Street Drug Analysis Lab anonymously tests substances. Testing result data is available on their website.