Summary/Abstract

Choopers Foundation, the non profit arm of Chooper's Guide, has purchased a van to deliver harm reduction supplies and services to urban and rural areas of Maine currently under servered or not currently served. Services will include syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, treatment screening.

Content

The Choopers Foundation in conjunction with their partner, Grace Street Recovery Services, will rollout a new set of Harm Reduction services to active opioid users in the state of Maine by March 1, 2017. A new mobile Harm Reduction van equipped with syringe exchange kits, naloxone and providing Hep C and HIV testing and treatment referrals and medication assisted treatment screening and admission scheduling will be dispatched to areas most in need of services. 

Our Fundraiser

This is a fundraiser to outfit the new camper that Choopers Foundation purchased for providing Harm Reduction services and supplies to both urban and rural areas of Maine. All donations will be used to purchase Naloxone kits, Syringe Exchange Supplies and operational costs for the Van.  

Opioid use and addiction has reached epidemic proportions in Maine  resulting in dramatic increases in heroin, fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdoses and increased incidence of blood borne diseases (Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV) amongst people who inject drugs (PWID's). Currently, Harm reduction services are available in only four urban areas in the State and reach only a small percentage of the population in need of these services.

Our mission is simple. To prevent infection and death until that day when the user becomes sick and tired of being sick and tired and seeks treatment and recovery.  We believe, and research studies indicate, that the Harm Reduction Philosophy of "Meet People Where They Are" is the most effective and compassionate method to reach people who are active in their addiction. 

The van will be in operation by late winter and staffed by trained volunteers under the License of our partner, Grace Street Recovery Services. Grace Street Recovery Services is the leading medication assisted treatment program using suboxone in Maine.