Community Health
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Harm Reduction and
Drug & Opioid OverdosesDrug 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.
Click below to navigate throughout this page:
Harm Reduction Services
Harm Reduction Hours/Location
Public Health Vending Machine
Accessing Narcan
Addiction Treatment and Counseling
Drug and Opioid Overdoses
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.
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 Public Health Vending Machines to provide greater access to free, lifesaving Narcan and other public health interventions. Our Public Health Vending Machines dispense items at no cost to the recipient. Available items include Narcan Nasal Spray, fentanyl test strips, hygiene kits, condoms, emergency contraception, and other items; selection of items may vary by location.
Locations of vending machines:
- Corinne Reid Owens Transit Center
- Racine Public Library – accessible 24/7
- Dr. John Bryant Community Center
Location
Corinne Reid Owens Transit Center
1409 State Street
Racine, WI 53403
Hours
Sunday – Saturday, 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
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:
- Narcotics Anonymous – Wisconsin
- Cocaine Anonymous – Wisconsin
- Alcoholics Anonymous – Racine
- Methadone Outpatient Treatment
- Ascension Care for Substance Use and Addiction Disorders
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
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
Gender Data
Race & Ethnicity Data
Opioid Overdose Death Rates by Location
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:
- Narcan distribution through:
- Harm Reduction Program
- Public Health Vending Machine
- Mail Me Narcan
- Group and community programs and organizations
- Safe Medication Disposal Dropboxes
- Overdose Fatality Review Team
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