Syringe Services
Syringe Services & Harm Reduction
Our syringe exchange program fosters an inclusive environment where individuals are supported by peers with shared experiences, including offering gender-affirming syringe supplies and compassionate care to ensure everyone feels respected and empowered to prioritize their health.
Why Harm Reduction Matters
- Why Harm Reduction Matters
- Prevents HIV and hepatitis C transmission
- Reduces overdose deaths through education and naloxone distribution
- Everyone deserves access to services, without feeling shamed and unworthy.
- Connects people to health care and treatment when they’re ready
- Creates trust and reduces stigma
- Keeps our community safer through proper disposal
- Provides a vital connection to support services
Services We Offer
- Free sterile supplies for safer drug use
- Naloxone (Narcan) and overdose prevention education
- 24/7 Harm Reduction Vending Machine
- Fentanyl test strips and drug checking
- 24/7 disposal through our secure kiosks
- Wound care supplies
- Connection to treatment when desired
- HIV and hepatitis C testing
- Compassionate, judgment-free support
Available Supplies
- Various sizes of sterile syringes
- Safer injection supplies
- Safer smoking supplies
- Wound care materials
- Disposal containers
- Naloxone kits
Treatment Support
We partner with local providers to offer access to:
- Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Substance use counseling
- Mental health services
- Medical care
- Additional support services
Hours and Access
- Drop-in services: Tuesday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
- 24/7 disposal kiosks at multiple locations
- Mobile services throughout Sonoma County
- No ID or paperwork required
- All services are free and confidential
Community Impact
Our program helps create a healthier Sonoma County by:
- Preventing new HIV and hepatitis C infections
- Reducing overdose deaths through naloxone distribution
- Achieving high rates of supply return (80%)
- Connecting people to health care and treatment
- Supporting community cleanliness through proper disposal
- Building trust with marginalized community members
Harm Reduction
What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in the rights of people who use drugs.
Harm reduction recognizes that substance use exists on a spectrum, from active use to managed use to abstinence. While some people may choose treatment right away, others may need different kinds of support at different times. By meeting people where they are—whether that’s providing clean supplies, connecting them to treatment, or supporting their recovery journey—we ensure everyone has access to options that work for their unique situation.
Why Harm Reduction Matters in Sonoma County
In a community where health resources are stretched thin and substance use support is limited, harm reduction saves lives. At Face to Face, we believe that every person deserves access to tools that can keep them safer and healthier, regardless of their circumstances. When we lead with love and practical support – providing new supplies, overdose prevention resources, and judgment-free care – we create vital connections that benefit everyone.
Our harm reduction program serves over 7,500 community members annually, preventing HIV and hepatitis C transmission, reversing overdoses through naloxone distribution, and achieving an 80% return rate on supplies. But the impact goes beyond numbers: we’re often the first point of contact for people who’ve been turned away elsewhere, offering dignity, respect, and a pathway to additional support when they’re ready.
In Sonoma County’s challenging landscape of limited treatment options and rising overdose rates, harm reduction serves as an essential safety net. Through practical care and fierce compassion, we help people stay alive and healthy today while building trust that can lead to deeper engagement with health services tomorrow.
Further Harm Reduction Information
Harm Reduction Supplies
We carry syringes for IV use in the following sizes, and syringes for intramuscular injection. We also provide SHARPS containers in three assorted sizes.
- 1cc 28 gauge 1/2 inch
- 1cc 27 gauge 5/8 inch
- 1cc 27 gauge 1/2 inch
- 1cc 29 gauge1/2 inch
- 1cc 30 gauge 1/2 inch
- 1cc 31 gauge 5/16 inch
- 1/2cc 28 gauge 1/2 inch
- 3cc 25 gauge 1 1/2 inch
We provide safer injection supplies like cookers, cotton (small and large), alcohol wipes, sterile water, tourniquets (latex).
We also provide wound care supplies like Band-Aids, triple antibiotic ointment, and gauze.
You can also get safer smoking supplies like bubblers, oil burners, and straight shooters.
Found Needle Protocol
Face to Face accepts used syringes and equipment, disposing of them safely so that needles and other injection equipment are kept off our streets. While there are no documented cases of HIV infection through contact with a needle or syringe discarded in a public place, we do support keeping our community clean and safe. If you find littered syringes on the street, you can contact Face to Face for support.
You can also call the city or local government to voice concerns and advocate for syringe disposal kiosks in your neighborhood. This will inform local government of the need for syringe drop boxes due to consistent issues with littered syringes in your neighborhood. The impact from this will likely not be immediate, however, it will create a track record so when resources become available, documentation and data will be used to support your requests.
You can also contact Face to Face to receive free Bio Hazard containers (BIO Buckets) to be proactive in discarding littered syringes. If you do discard them yourself.
Do’s
- Use of common sense and universal safety precautions
- Use Bio Hazzard, SHARPS/Bio Bucket, 2-liter soda bottle, Clorox bottle, Gatorade bottle
- Wear gloves, gardening, dishwashing, medical, etc.
- Wear closed-toe shoes
- Always pick up one syringe at a time
- Use a clipper or grabber instrument if available
- Always pick up by the barrel towards the end of the syringe
- Discard needlepoint first into SHARPS container
- Discard injecting equipment like, cookers, cottons, and tourniquets, alcohol swabs, in the bio bucket sharps container
- Contact Face to Face if you have any questions
Dont’s
- Don’t panic and do not do anything you are uncomfortable with
- Do not pick up more than one syringe at a time
- If you have an open wounds, do not pick up needles without gloves
- Don’t wear flip flops or shorts
If you have questions about opioid overdose prevention and would like to request training, please contact our offices at 707-544-1581. We provide education to individual trainers or groups, including how to administer naloxone (Narcan) and reverse an overdose.
