Harm Reduction Outreach and Engagement

✿ What is Harm Reduction? ✿

“Harm reduction is a set of strategies and practical ideas aimed at reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on belief in and respect for the rights of people who use drugs. ”

A Movement Based on Respect

— National Harm Reduction Coalition

Submit a Self Referral

✿ What does it include? ✿

What you need to get healthy

Not everyone is ready to stop immediately. Harm Reduction focuses on meeting the individual where they are at, treating them with respect and equipping them with the tools they need to survive addiction so that they live long enough to decide to get clean. Harm reduction can include:

Safe disposal of used syringes
Access to sterile syringes, new safer injection supplies
Overdose rescue kits (Naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdose)
Risk reduction counseling (examples; prevention of diseases such as Hep C, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases)
Safer sexual supplies
Safer sex education
Referrals to medical and mental health care, shelter services, and drug and alcohol treatment including detox.

✿ Recover your way ✿

The El Jardín Difference

El Jardín doesn’t just give you supplies; it gives you support. Our Harm Reduction team does outreach in the community twice a week, where they offer onsite peer support and resource connection without the wait. Clients receiving mentor services can also be referred to the harm reduction team, allowing them to recover as they need.

Submit a Self Referral

✿ 2025 in numbers

Two Harm reduction specialists make a harm reduction bag for a houseless individual. They are meeting outside a van, speaking about recovery services

3,588

Total Encounters

during outreach across Multnomah and Washington Counties

A photo of toothbrushes, hygiene supplies, and narcan to be distributed to the community.

2,691

Doses of Narcan

distributed to Harm Reduction clients during outreach

Two women stand at the open tailgate of a van full of harm reduction supplies. One woman stands with a bag of supplies and a flyer about El Jardin. She is speaking to the other woman about reccovery services, how to access them, and how to stay safe.

136

Total Outreach Days

including community outreach, events, and the Pilot Project

813

Total Referrals

to Case Management services for help with larger recovery goals.

El Jardín’s Harm Reduction program goes beyond supply distribution. We have partnered with the Oregon Health Authority’s Save Lives Oregon Network to offer culturally and linguistically specific harm reduction training to you. Our All About Naloxone training provides essential information about naloxone, including overdose recognition, response steps, legal protections, and access methods. This training is free and available for any organization or business.

Get Trained

✿ Community as the frontline ✿

Harm Reduction Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and submit a self-referral—no insurance or payment required!

Get Help

Our services are for anyone seeking resources to start their recovery, though they are especially designed for self-identifying Latinos seeking support with a substance-use disorder. These are bicultural programs for both English and Spanish speakers.
Nothing! Our services are 100% free for any individual seeking to start their recovery.
No! We believe recovery is self-directed, meaning that you should have the option to start whenever you decide without waiting for doctor approval. You may submit a self-referral at any time or walk into one of our Recovery Drop-In Centers for same-day connection to a Certified Recovery Mentor.
Yes, but whether or not they participate is up to them. We believe recovery is self-directed, so we cannot force anyone into receiving help if they do not want it.
No. El Jardín specializes in recovery support and case management services, operating from both the Recovery Drop-In Centers. However, this is not a treatment center. It is more like a resource center. If you would like to get connected to a treatment center, stop by one of our centers to access our extensive referral system
We do not currently offer mental health-specific services. We recognize that many clients who struggle with substance use also struggle with mental health. We have built out our referral system to be able to help clients with dual diagnoses through our community partners. If you feel like you need mental health help, please feel free to stop by and we can get you connected to help today.