Harm reduction saves lives. It’s a straightforward approach focused on minimizing the risks associated with drug use, whether that means preventing overdoses or reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Rather than demanding abstinence, these evidence-based practices meet people where they are and offer practical support—helping them stay safe, healthy and connected to resources.
Why Harm Reduction Matters
Harm reduction is rooted in compassion and understanding. It recognizes that some individuals may not be ready to quit using substances and focuses on safety instead of stigma. By reducing the immediate risks, this perspective empowers people to make healthier choices over time. This approach has proven successful in reducing overdose deaths and limiting the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C.
Citizen Advocates’ Role
Citizen Advocates’ mental health and addiction treatment clinics serve as welcoming, judgment-free spaces where anyone can receive the support they need. At our clinics in Malone, Massena, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake and Watertown, patients can access critical harm reduction supplies, including Narcan kits, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, safe sex kits and tamper-proof pill containers.
A New Initiative: Harm Reduction Vending Machines
Citizen Advocates is proud to partner with the Alliance for Positive Health, the Adirondack Health Institute’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program and MATTERS (Medication for Addiction Treatment & Electronic Referrals) to place harm reduction vending machines outside the Malone Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center, 125 Finney Boulevard in Malone, and the Saranac Lake Outpatient Clinic, 70 Edgewood Road in Saranac Lake. These vending machines offer free supplies 24/7, including Narcan kits, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, hygiene kits and menstrual support products.
By removing barriers like stigma and availability, the machines ensure that life-saving tools are always accessible.
Making a Difference in the Community
Harm reduction isn’t just about safety—it’s about dignity, compassion and meeting people where they are. Through education, partnerships or simply offering a judgment-free space, our behavioral health clinics at the forefront of making evidence-based practices accessible and effective in the North Country.
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