Welcome to the Louisiana Department of Health’s Harm Reduction Distribution Hub!
Making harm reduction resources accessible across the state of Louisiana.
What is harm reduction and why is it needed? (Click Here)
Harm Reduction Overview
Between October 2023 and September 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 87,000 drug overdose deaths (CDC, 2025), a 24% decline in drug overdose deaths compared to the previous year (114,000 deaths to 87,000 deaths) (CDC, 2025). While this is the lowest number of deaths the country has seen in the past five years, drug overdoses and overdose deaths remain the leading cause of death for people aged 18-44 and disproportionately affect certain marginalized communities around the country (CDC,2025; Henderson, 2024; Drug Policy Alliance, 2024). To learn more about Louisiana overdose data, please visit the Louisiana Opioid Data and Surveillance System.
To address the opioid epidemic, public health organizations and institutions engage in an array of evidence-based practices, including harm reduction. Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach to engaging people who use drugs (PWUD) and providing them with life-saving tools and information. These services aim to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission; improve physical, mental, and social well-being; and offer low barrier options for accessing.
The Harm Reduction Distribution Hub
The Louisiana Statewide Harm Reduction Distribution Hub is a transformational centralized platform, where institutions can apply to be distribution sites and request harm reduction materials to distribute to the general public. The hub also offers training, educational materials, and links to harm reduction resources. Distribution sites can order naloxone (Narcan nasal spray, 4mg), fentanyl test strips, 1 quart and 5 quart sharps containers, wound care kits, Deterra drug deactivation bags, large and small LockMed bags, personal hygiene kits, and fact sheets. The goal of this program is to provide PWUD and other members of the community with evidence-based harm reduction resources. The Harm Reduction Distribution Hub is funded through the Louisiana State Opioid Response (LaSOR) grant. This is the program’s third funding cycle, which originally began in December 2022.
Becoming a Harm Reduction Distribution Hub Site
A Harm Reduction Distribution Hub Site is a community-based entity that has completed an agreement and has been approved to distribute harm reduction products on behalf of the state of Louisiana to individuals and other entities as an overall approach to reducing overdoses and transmission of infectious diseases. To become a distribution site, you must complete the application providing the information requested and agree to distribute materials to the public (individuals and other entities).
Some examples of community-based organizations and other institutions who serve PWUD and people who associate with PWUD include:
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Syringe Service Programs (SSPs)
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Local Governing Entities (LGEs)
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Shelters
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Harm Reduction Groups
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Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers/Programs
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Social Service Agencies
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Faith-Based Organizations
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Primary Care Clinics
To become a site, an institution and its individuals must agree to the following:
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Your institution has no other funding sources available to purchase or acquire the harm reduction materials available through the Harm Reduction Hub.
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Your institution will distribute to the community, including individuals and other institutions that are not distribution sites, and will be available as listed on the Harm Reduction Hub website.
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Your institution will provide education and training on the recognition of an opioid overdose and appropriate use of the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone.
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Your institution will engage with priority populations, which includes 1) people who use drugs, including opioids, such as fentanyl, and other drugs, and 2) friends and family members who may witness/respond to an overdose.
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Your institution will provide harm reduction supplies to ANYONE who asks for harm reduction supplies, as the purpose of this program is to be a low barrier resource for everyone.
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Your institution will participate in both the Portal Orientation facilitated by the Harm Reduction Hub Monitor and the Narcan & Fentanyl Test Strip Use training offered by the Office of Public Health STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program BEFORE distribution begins.
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Your institution will submit accurate and complete monthly reporting forms by the 15th of each month. Orders will NOT be filled until the monthly reporting form is accurate, complete and submitted.
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Your institution will sign and date packing slips of the orders you receive. Further orders will NOT be filled until you submit signed and dated packing slips or other sufficient ordering data.
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Your institution will be communicative and responsive. After approval, you will provide a secondary contact that will take over for the primary contact when unavailable.
Every approved harm reduction site is able to order the following items on a monthly basis:
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Naloxone (Narcan nasal spray, 4mg)
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Fentanyl Test Strips
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Sharps Containers, 1 and 5 Quarts
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Wound Care Kits
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Deterra Bags
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LockMed Bags, Lrg and Sml
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Personal Hygiene Kits
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Printed Fact Sheets
Applying to Become a Site
UPDATE (05/05/2025): As of May 5, 2025, we are taking a brief pause on reviewing applications. Please note that you can still submit your application. We will contact you when the application process resumes.
To become a site, please fill out the site application here: https://laredcap.oph.dhh.la.gov/surveys/?s=MTFC8FY87H8N7987.
When filling out the application, please consider the following tips:
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Be as thorough as possible when filling out the questions. If the application does not provide adequate information, their application decision may be delayed.
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Have a strong understanding of the harm reduction program at SHHP. Read about what the program offers, our commitment to harm reduction, and what other sites are doing around their site. For more, please visit https://www.louisianahealthhub.org/hrdhub/.
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Be a needs-based program. We strive to work with organizations that do not have funding for Narcan and other harm reduction supplies. That said, we look at every application carefully and will reach out for further information, if necessary.
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Ask questions! Please email the Statewide Harm Reduction Distribution Hub Monitor, Aaron Elkins (aaron.elkins@la.gov), if you need any help or clarification.
Geo-Location Map of Distribution Sites
Use this map to find where you can access Narcan and other harm reduction resources in your area (see regional information below):
Local Governing Entities, by Region:
Region 1 LGE:
Metropolitan Human Services District, 2221 Philip Street, New Orleans, LA 70113
Region 2 LGE:
Capital Area Human Services, 7855 Howell Blvd., Suite 220 Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Region 3 LGE:
South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, 158 Regal Row, Houma, LA 70360
Region 4 LGE:
Acadiana Area Human Services District, 302 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506
Region 5 LGE:
Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority, 1615 Wolf Circle, Suite B, Lake Charles, LA 70605
Region 6 LGE:
Central Louisiana Human Services District, 5411 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria, LA 71303
Region 7 LGE:
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District, 2000 Fairfield , Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104
Region 8 LGE:
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority, Prevention & Wellness Center, 2400 Ferrand Street, Monroe, LA 71201
Region 9 LGE:
Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, 835 Pride Drive, Suite B, Hammond, LA 70401ion Dept, New Orleans LA 70117
Syringe Service Programs, By Region:
Region 1 SSP:
NOSAP at Crescent Care, 1631 Elysian Fields Ave, 2nd Floor Prevention Dept, New Orleans LA 70117
Region 2 SSP:
CARP, 1364 Swan Avenue, Baton Rouge LA, 70807
Region 6 SSP:
CLASS (Fresh Works), 1785 Jackson Street, Alexandria LA 71301
Region 7 SSP:
Philadelphia Center, 2020 Centenary Boulevard, Shreveport LA 71104
Impact of the Portal: Data Overview
Harm Reduction Supply Distribution, December 2022 – March 2025:
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Naloxone (Narcan, nasal spray 4mg): 167,406 kits
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Fentanyl Test Strips: 140,967 strips
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Sharps Containers, 1 and 5 Quarts: 5,862 containers
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Wound Care Kits: 20,259 kits
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Deterra Bags: 2,611 bags
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LockMed Bags, Lrg and Sml: 1,203 bags
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Personal Hygiene Kits: 6,440 kits
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Harm Reduction Vending Machines: 2 Coming Summer 2025!
Overdose Reversal Numbers, December 2022 – March 2025:
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Total number of reported overdose reversals: 17,191 reversals
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Total number of reported overdose reversals using LaSOR-funded Narcan: 13,293 reversals
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Other Hub-Specific Data, December 2022 – March 2025:
- 67 Active Sites (Started with 12)
- Sites are found in all 9 Louisiana Regions
- Total number of people trained on Overdose Response and Narcan Use: 111,850 people
Education, Training, and Other Helpful Resources
Education
- What is Fentanyl?
- Hepatitis C Overview
- Syringe Access and HIV in Louisiana
- Naloxone and Liability for the Workplace and Employers in Louisiana
- Naloxone Overdose Response Plan
- Accessing Syringes in Louisiana
- What is Xylazine?
Training
If you are an approved site, you can request a Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strip Training! The training lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. To request this training, please contact the harm reduction distribution hub monitor, Aaron Elkins (aaron.elkins@la.gov), with how many people will attend from your team and some times you are available. We are currently working on providing other presentations for approved sites.
Please note, we are not able to give presentations to people outside of an approved site’s organization, unless you follow the following guidelines. If you would like a presentation on a specific topic relating to harm reduction that for people outside of your organization (ex. community members), please contact Aaron Elkins with the following information:
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What presentation topic you are requesting
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What the presentation is for
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Who will attend
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When the presentation is
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We ask that you notify us with roughly a month’s notice of the presentation.
Helpful Resources
Louisiana Health Hub:
DanceSafe Fentanyl Test Strip Instructions (same as ours):
How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips (VIDEO):
A Guide to Fentanyl Touch Overdoses, Which Do Not Exist:
Context Clues: Why Did They Pass Out?:
SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention TOOLKIT – Five Essential Steps for First Responders:
Opioids (Johns Hopkins Overview):
First Aid: Rescue Breathing:
Fentanyl Overview (National Harm Reduction Coalition):
What is Naloxone? (VIDEO):
ACMT and AACT Position Statement: Preventing Occupational Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analog Exposure to Emergency Responders:
The Pernicious Myth of Fentanyl-Laced Cannabis:
Fear, Loathing, and Fentanyl Misinformation — Misleading fentanyl narratives are pervasive and cause very real harm:
Fentanyl panic goes viral: The spread of misinformation about overdose risk from casual contact with fentanyl in mainstream and social media:
Harm Reduction Team
Mary Beth Campbell, MSPH MPH (she/her):
Harm Reduction Supervisor
mary.campbell2@la.gov
Charlotte Wilcox (she/her):
Viral Hepatitis Coordinator
charlotte.wilcox@la.gov
Aaron Elkins, MPH (he/they):
Statewide Harm Reduction Distribution Hub Monitor
aaron.elkins@la.gov
Milo Malone (they/them):
Statewide Syringe Service Program Monitor
milo.malone@la.gov