Ellington

Located in the U-District just west of campus is Seattle’s last independent needle exchange run by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance (PHRA). The organization has received a $13,000 grant from Street Outreach Services to start a program to give intravenous drug users access to the drug Naloxone.

Currently available only by a doctor’s prescription, Naloxone is an opiate antagonist that can stop the effects of a heroin or morphine overdose.

“Most of our patrons don’t feel comfortable going to their doctor, admitting they have an addiction to heroin and asking for a prescription for the Naloxone,” said PHRA treasurer Tom Fitzpatrick. “We want to make it possible for users to get the drug without having to visit their doctor.”

By applying the Collaborative Practice Agreement, which allows pharmacists to initiate and adjust drug therapy with a physician’s authorization, people may get Naloxone without ever seeing a doctor, Fitzpatrick explained. Collaborative practice has also granted patients access to emergency contraceptives.

PHRA is the first needle exchange in the state to try to include a Naloxone program as part of their services.

“The program is too political and [King County] doesn’t have the money to do it,” PHRA director Shilo Murphy said. “This is why we have remained independent.”

Developed in the University District in August 2007, PHRA is a grassroots organization that runs solely on volunteer participation. The PHRA’s volunteer team, composed of about 35 members, works to reduce the disease and health risks associated with drug use.

Murphy estimated that PHRA used about 1.8 million needles in 2008, making it one of the largest needle-exchange sites in the country.

Volunteers hail from throughout the Puget Sound region, including students from the University of Washington. To increase peer outreach, PHRA also encourages drug users and ex-users to volunteer.

UW freshman Jamie McAllister’s experiences volunteering at PHRA have led her to a greater understanding of Seattle’s drug community.

“I didn’t realize the type of people who had a problem and came to the needle exchange. It wasn’t just your stereotypical drug user, they were really normal,” McAllister said. “They have a real problem, and [PHRA] provided them an outlet. It’s better than disposing needles in a trash can and it’s less dangerous for the public.”

PHRA provides intravenous drug users with new and sterile syringes, sterile water, cotton, cookers to dissolve drugs, wound-care kits, tourniquets, alcohol wipes, condoms and educational material. The center also offers free Hepatitis C testing the first Thursday of every month.

The harm-reduction model accepts that some people will continue to use drugs, despite laws and regulations. The PHRA described their approach as being accepting of peoples’ choices, encouraging of positive change and allowing patrons to determine their own success.

“People feel truly safe and welcome as equal members of this community,” Murray explained. “Our program is run by community consensus so the needs of our members are met.”

Reach reporter Kendra Abernathy at news@dailyuw.com.