Lupe Hurtado, a peer navigator and outreach community worker (at right) talks to a client about what supplies he needs at a Tacoma Needle Exchange site on G Street in Tacoma Wednesday, August 6, 2022.  Tacoma Needle Exchange drives their van to the site every Wednesday and hands out safe smoking supplies as well as fresh needles, body wipes, socks, hats, soap, lotion, toothpaste, vaseline, boof kits, hand sanitizer and condoms.  At left in the van is Chris McKnight, an outreach community worker.  He will get the supplies off shelves in the vehicle and put them in a bag for the client.

A recent UW survey showed that fentanyl use and smoking drugs has surged among drug users across Washington state. The Tacoma Needle Exchange tried a new way of reaching people last year: The organization distributed smoking supplies like pipes from its site on G Street on the edge of downtown Tacoma and saw a 64% increase in clients. The idea is that clean smoking supplies can help people be healthier and that when they visit the site, they can connect with services like treatment and housing.  220036