By Robert J. Budsock MS, LCADC, is the President and CEO of Integrity House
After nearly 56 years of providing comprehensive substance use treatment and recovery services, Integrity House is taking an important step forward to address a pressing community need. In August 2024, Integrity House opened a harm reduction center in Newark, right off Broad Street. This initiative marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to address substance-related overdoses and other public health challenges in the greater Newark area in a way that continues to emphasize compassion, health, and community well-being.
In treating thousands of individuals experiencing substance use disorder (SUD), we firmly believe treatment remains an important option for individuals seeking recovery. But, we recognize that treatment may not be a viable or desirable choice for everyone. The refusal of treatment, however, does not preclude someone from deserving care. A core principle of harm reduction is to improve both individual and community well-being and quality of life by accepting, for better or worse, that drug use is happening in our communities. We know that far too many people are dying from drug overdoses and that there are valuable benefits to minimizing the harmful effects of substances rather than simply ignoring or condemning them.
Harm reduction doesn’t condone drug use. Instead, it recognizes the reality of drug use and individual choice and prioritizes keeping people alive and safe. It doesn’t ignore the very real and tragic dangers associated with illicit drug use but provides individuals pathways to well-being, creating better outcomes for individuals and the community.
People who struggle with substance use may not want to, are not ready, or are currently unable to quit. Harm reduction is about meeting them where they are, reducing the negative health effects of their substance use, and not pressuring them to quit drugs but being available to help them if and when they are ready.
Improving both individual and community well-being is the primary function of the Integrity Harm Reduction Center (IHRC). The IHRC will distribute equipment, including sterile needles and syringes, and properly dispose of used equipment to reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. The center will also offer harm reduction education, including guidance on safe consumption and safe sex practices; information on chronic diseases that often co-occur with extended substance use; drug checking equipment such as fentanyl test strips; and naloxone. Participants also have the opportunity to obtain supplies for their peers. As the center grows, it will eventually provide wound care and other nursing services.
The Integrity Harm Reduction Center site will not allow any drug consumption or sale on or near the premises.
On a broader scale, the Integrity Harm Reduction Center will prioritize connecting participants to additional services, including housing assistance, food services, HIV testing and treatment, mental health services, and addiction treatment for those who seek it. The Integrity Harm Reduction Center is conveniently located directly across the street from our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), which offers walk-in access to coordinated physical and behavioral health care to anyone who requests care, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age.
Consistent research over the past thirty years shows that harm reduction and syringe services programs work to reduce the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis, decrease crime, and increase the chances participants will enter substance use treatment. Distributing naloxone, offering testing for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases spread through sharing needles, and providing information to prevent the spread of disease yield better individual results while improving overall community health.
Integrity House will participate in regular internal and external evaluation activities to measure the effectiveness of its harm reduction center and support continuous improvement activities. And we will routinely engage with the local community to foster transparency, accountability, and, most importantly, greater community health.
We firmly believe – and the research bears this out – that harm reduction efforts lead to far fewer negative consequences for both individuals and our community. Numerous measures are in place to ensure the safety of every participant and staff member. Overdose-reversing naloxone will be on hand, and all staff will be trained in its use.
Integrity House’s mission has always been to help individuals and families through an effective and measurable system of comprehensive addiction treatment, mental health treatment, and recovery support. The addition of the Integrity Harm Reduction Center to our continuum of care is an extension of that mission. By offering individuals who use substances a safe space to receive care, we will continue to meet the needs of our community and provide a pathway for individuals to achieve greater health and well-being.