The The Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego (HRCSD) is a grass-roots non-profit organization founded by the people and for the people. We aim to eliminate stigma and improve the healthcare service design and delivery for people who use drugs. Combining education, advocacy, outreach, and direct services, HRCSDs low-barrier approach to engaging the community translates to wide-spread community-based naloxone distribution that reaches every corner of San Diego County. Visit: https://www.hrcsd.org/
PPALA — In a first for San Diego County and sovereign lands across the United States, three local native tribes have implemented vending machines offering free Naloxone kits in hopes of preventing opioid-related deaths on the reservation. Naloxone, or Narcan, is a fast-acting nasal spray that can stop fentanyl or other opioid-related overdoses. After nearly a year of communication between tribal dignitaries and the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego County, the Pala Band of Mission Indians became home to the first Naloxone vending machine on sovereign land in the United States on April 13. “It’s about prevention, and we’ll be saving peoples lives in the future,” said Pala Chairman Robert Smith. “It’s a first step. I hope there will be more to follow … hopefully we can make a difference in our community and communities like ours.” After one was installed at the Pala Fire Station, additional machines were brought in the following weeks to two other tribes in San Diego County — the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in Valley Center at the fire station and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians at the Yaytaanak Wellness Center in Alpine.
The Pala Band of Mission Indians has installed what the tribe says is the first Naloxone vending machine ever placed on tribal land in the United States, it was announced Friday. The tribe has partnered with Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego to get the machine installed at the Pala Fire Department, where free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips are also available.
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