Harm Reduction is a set of practical strategies to empower people who use drugs (and their families) with the choice to live healthy , self-directed, and purpose-filled lives.
It is a movement built on the belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.
And it incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, and meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at.”
Rising drug overdose deaths in Tennessee may be a sign of changing drug-related behaviors, such as increases in injection drug use and/or the types of drugs being injected. This raises the potential for rapid transmission of certain infections that could result in an HIV or HCV outbreak among persons who inject drugs.
To evaluate county-level vulnerability to an outbreak, the Tennessee Department of Health examined socio-economic factors, indicators of opioid-related drug use, access to heathcare, and health outcomes in Tennessee.
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This application is for those seeking to establish and operate an SSP in Tennessee. An SSP and any operating location(s) must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) before starting operations.
A nongovernmental program or local health department that promotes scientifically proven ways of mitigating health vulnerabilities associated with drug use, may apply to establish and operate an SSP. Please review Tennessee’s SSP legislation, T.C.A Title 68, Chapter 1, prior to applying.
A guide for new agencies (those who have never been approved for an SSP before) navigating the TN SSP Application
A guide for already-approved agencies navigating the amended TN SSP Application to establish an SSP in a county where operations are already occurring
A guide for already-approved agencies navigating the amended TN SSP Application to establish an SSP in a different county from current operations
A guide for local health departments navigating the TN SSP Application
A guide on creating a Safety & Security Plan. Also includes instruction on how to submit that plan to law enforcement in alignment with TN code
A guide for agencies to learn best practices about disposing syringes and needles in accordance with TN standards
A list of different funding mechanisms for SSPs and related services
A list of resources to help agencies develop an SSP
If you need additional help, please use the Contact Box at the bottom of this page or email SSP.Health@tn.gov.
Please allow 2-3 business days for a response.
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