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Harm Reduction Program and
Drug & Opioid Overdoses
Drug overdoses, particularly those due to opioids like fentanyl and heroin, are a growing problem in the Racine community and across the United States.
The Public Health Department operates a Harm Reduction program for residents of Racine and surrounding communities, providing a variety of services aimed at preventing harms and overdose due to drug use. Other programs are also in place as we work toward curbing the opioid overdose epidemic, saving lives, and protecting the public's health. |
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Harm Reduction Services
Harm Reduction is an evidence-based approach to reduce negative consequences associated with drug use. It accepts that illicit drug use is part of our world, attempting to minimize harmful effects rather than ignoring or condemning them while not minimizing the real dangers associated with drug use.
The Harm Reduction Program provides a variety of services that attempt to minimize harmful effects of illicit drug use in our community. Services include:
- Access to safe injection supplies
- Training and distribution of Narcan®
- HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment
referral
- Appropriate syringe disposal
- Fentanyl test strip distribution
- Community health education
- Substance use treatment referrals and resources
Narcan® (naloxone) is an emergency treatment that can be administered for a suspected opioid overdose. It is available at no cost for clients, family members, friends, and professionals.
Harm Reduction Program Information
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
City of Racine Public Health Department
Racine City Hall
730 Washington Ave
Room 4, Lower Level
Racine, WI 53403
Supplies for the Public Health Department's Harm Reduction Program are received through partnerships with
Vivent Health, which operates clinics throughout Wisconsin and other states, as well as the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Call 262-636-9431 for more information about the Harm Reduction Program.
Public Health Vending Machine
The Public Health Department operates a Public Health Vending Machine to provide greater access to free, lifesaving Narcan. Our Public Health Vending Machine dispenses Hope Kits at no cost to the recipient. Hope Kits contain two doses of Narcan Nasal Spray, a pocket CPR mask, fentanyl test strips, instructions for using these supplies, and information about local treatment and counseling services.
Hours
Sunday - Saturday, 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
Location
Corinne Reid Owens Transit Center
1409 State Street
Racine, WI 53403
Accessing Narcan®
Adequate access to Narcan® is an important step in preventing deaths from opioid overdoses, and the Public Health Department is committed to ensuring equitable access to Narcan for all members of our community.
Narcan is available from the Public Health Department at no charge in a variety of ways, including through community outreach at churches, schools, businesses, and community events. If you are affiliated with a business, church, non-profit, or other community group and feel that a presentation about opioid overdoses and the use of Narcan or the distribution of Narcan through your organization would be beneficial, contact the Public Health Department at
publichealth@cityofracine.org or 262-636-9201.
Additional ways to access Narcan:
- Harm Reduction Program of the Public Health Department, located inside Racine City Hall at 730 Washington Avenue, Room 4 (Lower Level), Racine.
- Public Health Vending Machine, located inside the Corinne Reid Owens Transit Center at 1409 State Street, Racine.
- Mail Me Narcan - A new program from the Public Health Department to have Narcan® mailed to your home.
- Behavioral Health Services of Racine County, located inside the Dennis Kornwolf Service Center at 1717 Taylor Avenue, Racine.
- NEXT Distro
- A service provided in conjunction with Gwayakobimaadiziwin Bad River Harm Reduction to have naloxone (generic Narcan) mailed to your home.
Addiction Treatment and Counseling
Several organizations offer meetings in Racine and other nearby areas to aid in overcoming addictions to injectable and other drugs. They include:
Drug and Opioid Overdoses
The drug and opioid overdose epidemic continues to be a public health crisis both locally and nationally. In the United States:
- Six times as many individuals died from a drug overdose in 2021 compared to 1999.
- Nearly 107,000 people died of a drug overdose death in 2021, and over 75% of those deaths involved an opioid.
National and Wisconsin Data and Resources
Dose of Reality | WI Department of Health Services
Drug Overdose Data | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Local Data
The City of Racine is experiencing similar trends in drug and opioid overdoses when compared to Racine County, Wisconsin, and the United States as a whole.
From 2020 through 2023 in the City of Racine:
- At least 112 individuals lost their life to a drug overdose.
- Of those 112 deaths, 86% (or 96 people) died due to an opioid.
- More than 95% of opioid-related deaths specifically involved fentanyl. That is 91 lives lost due at least in part to fentanyl.
- The annual total of opioid-related deaths increased by more than 93%. Fentanyl-involved deaths increased by over 130% over the same time period.
Click on the images below to view local drug and opioid overdose data in more detail.
Age Data
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Gender Data
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Race & Ethnicity Data
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Opioid Overdose Death Rates by Location
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What Is Being Done
The Public Health Department and other local partners have a number of initiatives underway to combat the opioid epidemic and prevent drug and opioid overdose deaths in our community. They include:
If you are affiliated with a business, church, non-profit, or other community group and feel that a presentation about opioid overdoses and the use of Narcan or the distribution of Narcan through your organization would be beneficial, contact the Public Health Department at
publichealth@cityofracine.org or 262-636-9201.