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Syringe Access Saves Lives

Watch the manager of a Harm Reduction Center explain how access to clean syringes empowers members of the community and protects public health from HIV, hepatitis and other bloodborne pathogens.

ARCH Nurse Program

The Access to Reproductive Care and HIV Services (ARCH) is a comprehensive initiative that embeds a licensed registered nurse at each of the Harm Reduction Centers (HRCs). The primary mission of the program is to identify pregnant clients at high risk for HIV infection and engage them in prenatal care.

ARCH nurses counsel about reproductive health and reducing HIV transmission, conduct pregnancy and STD testing, offer adult vaccines, teach safer injection practices, provide wound care consultations and arrange referrals for preconception, PrEP, prenatal and HIV specialty care.

To navigate to the ARCH Directory please click here.

Learn More

Contact the Program

Harm Reduction Centers
Division of HIV, STD and TB Services
55 N. Willow Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0363

HRC@doh.nj.gov 
Charla.Cousar@doh.nj.gov

Phone: 609-984-6050
Fax: 609-292-6009

Harm Reduction Centers

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DOH

NOTICE: The COVID-19 emergency has significantly curtailed the hours of Harm Reduction Centers. Please call ahead for the most current hours of operation.

Harm Reduction Centers (HRCs), also known as Syringe Access Programs, are community-based programs that provide a safe, trauma-informed, non-stigmatizing space for people who use drugs to access sterile syringes, needles, injection equipment and the life-saving drug naloxone (also known as Narcan), along with education on safer use, overdose prevention and safe disposal of used equipment. Clients can bring used syringes to HRCs and leave with new sterile syringes. HRCs provide a comprehensive approach to harm reduction by integrating behavioral interventions and access to services to prevent and reduce the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases, and risk of overdose deaths. HRCs offer services via mobile sites and fixed sites. Some HRCs are housed in Drop-In Centers that provide clients with access to food, telephone, laundry services, restrooms, showers, and computer services.

List of Authorized Harm Reduction Centers in New Jersey (PDF)

 

About HRCs

Each Harm Reduction Center is staffed by an Access to Reproductive Care and HIV (ARCH) Nurse who provides services to prevent transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C from mother to child through the early identification of high-risk women (i.e., females of reproductive age who injects drugs). The New Jersey Harm Reduction Centers have served to bridge major health gaps in services for people who inject drugs (PWID) by providing services such as health screenings, pregnancy testing and linkage to prenatal care, nutritional counseling, reproductive counseling for women of child bearing age, vaccinations, condom distribution, safe sex education, safe injection practices, wound care, drug overdose prevention and reversal.

The ARCH nurses located at Harm Reduction Centers offer the following:

  • HIV and viral hepatitis testing and counseling with linkage to medical care
  • Condoms
  • Referral and linkage to medical care, mental health and social services, including drug treatment
  • Overdose prevention education and access to Naloxone
  • Safe disposal of injection equipment education
  • Safe injection practices and wound care.