GIVING

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Rural HIV/AIDS Protest: 1991

  • Protest2
    Protests in 1991 & 1992 represented a response by an outraged rural population robbed of vital tax dollars necesary to maintain services in the countryside. As a result of these protests, rural AIDS service organizations prospered through the 1990s. Through the first half of this decade, Portland bureacrats eager to promote their careers co-opted the Statewide Planning Groups responsible for distribution of these tax dollars.

S.F. AIDS/ARC Vigil: 1986

  • More_vigil_volunteers
    The AIDS/ARC Vigil on United Nations Plaza at the Civic Center first drew attention to the interrelated problems of poverty, homelessness and AIDS in 1985. Protestors chained themselves to the Federal Building to publicize the need for increased federal response to the crisis. Billy Russo, Harm Reduction Center of Southern Oregon founder, participated in the Vigil for three weeks in the spring of 1986. His participation influenced the evolution of the organization over its 20 year history.

Remembering our volunteers

  • Under Construction

Jesse C. Corder Memorial Park

  • Jesse_c_corder
    JCC Memorial Park is named for the first person to publicly acknowledge living with HIV/AIDS in rural Southern Oregon. Trees are planted for the people who died in Southwest Oregon. The Park serves as a silent witness to how we addressed the epidemic through the dying years. THIS ALBUM IS UNDER CONTRUCTION.

The Ruby House Years

  • UNDER CONSTRUCTION

HIV Resource Center: 1998-2006

  • The HIV Resource Center. the precursor to HRCSO served Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties. In 2006 it merged with AIDS Support And Prevention (ASAP) in Grants Pass. The two AIDS Service Organizations reorganized as HRCSO

About

Needle Exchange

Rationale

We recognize that some people always have and always will engage in behaviors that carry risks.  Injection drug use is such a behavior.  The rate of HIV infection among injection drug users in rural Southwest Oregon is twice the rate statewide.  Injection drug use accounts for almost all Hepatitis C transmission.  After reviewing all of the research to date, the senior scientists of the Department of Health and Human Services and the surgeon General have unanimously agreed that there is conclusive scientific evidence that syringe exchange programs, as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy, are an effective public health intervention that reduces the transmission of HIV and does not encourage the use of illegal drugs."

To contact an outreach worker click here.

Source: US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Department of Health and Human Services, Evidence-Based Findings on the Efficacy of Syringe Exchange Programs: An Analysis from the Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General (Washington, DC: Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2000).

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What do we do?

We provide community-based outreach and education targeting injection drug users.  Our multi-component prevention program includes sterile needle and syringe access, risk reduction education, wound care supplies, and information on safe injecting and disposal practices. 

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Who do we serve?

We provide services to injection drug users in Douglas and Josephine Counties at our offices in Roseburg and Grants Pass.  We provide field services to hard-to-reach injection drug users through the use of trained volunteers who provide harm reduction materials and information within their social networks.   

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What is the need?

What is the need? One in five people who participate in local public sector drug treatment program, identify as injection drug users.  Many more are backlogged in criminal justice and other programs awaiting treatment.  Since there is no way of knowing how many would access treatment if more services were available, syringe exchange helps keep injection drug users safer. 

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