With a harm reduction philosophy, MCAVN’s syringe exchange program seeks to reduce the spread of HIV/HCV among persons who share drug equipment (works, cookers, syringes, cotton, etc).  

Syringes can be exchanged through a variety of trained volunteers throughout the county.  Syringes are also available at the Ukiah and Fort Bragg offices. 

MCAVN also provides training on overdose and overdose deaths among injection drug users.  The training focuses on skills of person who inject drugs on how to reduce overdoses and overdose deaths.  The program also supplies Narcan, a proven antidote for heroin and other opiate drugs derived from or resembling opium.  Used in the US since 1965, Narcan unlike some antidotes has no effects on its own.  It only reverses the effects of opiates for about an hour.  This means injecting Narcan into a vein or muscle can take away the opiate part of the overdose within minutes and restore the person’s breathing and consciousness. 

To learn more about this program contact:
MCAVN Inland at (707) 462-1932 or on the Coast (707) 962-0350  or email mcavn@mcavn.org.

Mendocino County AIDS Volunteer Network (MCAVN)
148 Clara Avenue, Ukiah, CA  95482
phone: (707) 462-1932, fax: (707) 462-2070, email: mcavn@mcavn.org