Safer Substance Use

Making informed choices about substance use is an important part of staying healthy and reducing the risks of overdose and addiction.

This page provides information and evidence-based resources to help you stay safe, including harm reduction strategies and connections to treatment.

Knowing the risks and taking steps to stay safe while using substances can make a big difference - and may even save a life.

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What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction is a non-judgmental approach intended to reduce the harms or risks associated with substance use. Harm reduction strategies include:
- Providing education on safer substance use and reducing stigma for people who use drugs
- Preventing the spread of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV by promoting safer practices, providing clean supplies and healthcare, and expanding access to testing and treatment
- Making resources available to use substances safely and prevent death from an accidental overdose
- Finding ways to make seeking and getting treatment easier for those who want to stop using substances
- Promoting hope and healing for individuals and families impacted by substance use

Reduce Risks and Prevent an Overdose

Fentanyl test strip being used to test a drug

Test Your Drugs

Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that detect if there's fentanyl in drugs. They can't tell how much fentanyl is present, but they can help you make safer choices. Find free fentanyl test strips in San Diego County.

Prevent an Overdose

Save a Life with Naloxone

Naloxone is a life-saving nasal spray that can stop a fentanyl overdose. Find free naloxone pick-up locations through the San Diego Opioid Project.

Never Use Alone

If you’re using substances by yourself, you don’t have to be alone. Call 800-484-3731 or 877-696-1996 to connect with a trained volunteer who will stay on the line. If you stop responding, they’ll contact emergency services to get your help – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Dispose of Medication Safely

Find safe places to drop off unneeded or expired prescription medication.

Start a Conversation

Talking with friends and loved ones about substance use helps reduce stigma and opens the door for people to seek help. Below are some resources to help you talk to someone you may be worried about.

Mental Health First Aid: 10 Tips for Talking About Addiction
Starting the Conversation Guide: Supporting a Loved One Dealing with Mental and/or Substance Use Disorders (pdf)
It’s Up to Us Bulletin: Shine a Light on Normalizing Conversations about Mental Health and Substance Use (pdf)
- Languages: English | Spanish | Arabic | Tagalog | Vietnamese | Chinese | Farsi | Pashto | Dari | Chamorro | Somali | Haitian (Creole)

Seek Help

There are various treatment options to meet you wherever you are in your recovery journey. These can include medication assisted treatment, withdrawal management, counseling, or a combination.

If you’re in a substance use or mental health crisis or just need someone to talk to, call or text 9-8-8. For other ways to get help during a crisis, visit our Crisis Services webpage.

Substance Use Outpatient Services

Get treatment and support without staying overnight

Substance Use Residential Services

Live in a safe, supportive environment while receiving treatment

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program

Programs that help people who have been convicted of a DUI meet the requirements to regain their license

Community Toolkit

Expand the library of outreach materials below for community use.

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Learn More

Watch the video to learn how to use naloxone and fentanyl test strips.

Get Involved

Visit the links below to learn how you can get involved in your community.

Go to the Connect with BHS webpage for more ways to engage.

Regional Substance Misuse Prevention Programs

The County of San Diego’s Regional Substance Misuse Prevention programs provide prevention education for youth and adults, facilitate community-based coalitions, and provide harm reduction outreach and distribution to help prevent overdose. Visit the links below to learn more.

Central: SAY San Diego
North Central: SAY San Diego
North Inland: Turn Behavioral Health Services
North Coastal: Vista Community Clinic, North Coastal Prevention Coalition
South: Institute for Public Strategies
East: Institute for Public Strategies

Other Ways the County is Reducing Substance Use Harms in the Community

Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT) are teams made up of different experts who provide non-judgmental, culturally sensitive street outreach to people who are living with chronic substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, and homelessness. Outreach is done around East Village and Midway neighborhoods.
San Diego Relay sends peers with lived experience to provide support to people with a severe substance use condition in Emergency Departments.
The Overdose Surveillance and Response Program is a collaboration across County agencies to enhance the monitoring of overdose data to improve fatal overdose prevention response and community engagement.
Read the County’s Comprehensive Harm Reduction Strategy Framework (pdf) to learn more.

Not sure where to start?

Call or text 9-8-8 or dial 1-888-724-7240 to speak to someone who can help find the right service for you or someone you care about. Both numbers are operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with support available in over 200 languages. For more information visit Get Help Now or All Services. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 .