Harm Reduction Action Center
Harm Reduction Action Center is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides syringe access, naloxone, testing, and harm reduction services to people who inject drugs through a fixed site, mobile outreach, and policy advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Harm Reduction Action Center does
Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public health agency founded in 2002 and headquartered at 112 E. 8th Ave., Denver, Colorado. It is Colorado's largest public health agency dedicated specifically to serving people who inject drugs (PWID), with a fixed-site syringe access program operating Monday through Friday 9am-12pm, a mobile syringe access program serving high drug traffic areas three afternoons per week, a 911 partnership for on-demand syringe cleanup, and four 24/7 outdoor syringe disposal kiosks. Core services include sterile syringe distribution and disposal, naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, on-demand HIV/HCV/STI testing, wound and vein care, hygiene and food access, and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment.
HRAC's programming and advocacy are governed by a PWID Advisory Committee, and the organization supplements a seven-person paid staff with over 600 volunteers and 2-4 interns at any given time. Since launching its syringe access program in February 2012, HRAC has enrolled more than 12,000 participants, serves 125-180 people per morning, and has facilitated proper disposal of over 6 million used syringes. The organization is a leading harm reduction policy advocate in Colorado, having helped pass 15 policy initiatives (10 statewide, 5 citywide) over 13 years, including syringe decriminalization, 911 Good Samaritan Law expansions, naloxone standing orders, and Denver's Overdose Prevention Center ordinance.
The business model is donation-funded: HRAC charges no fees for services, relying entirely on tax-exempt donations, in-kind contributions via Amazon Wish List, and foundation grants (e.g., Caring for Denver Foundation, 2021). Additional technical assistance, tours, and training are provided to healthcare providers (Denver Health, UCH), law enforcement, criminal justice institutions, and medical/nursing/pharmacy students. HRAC's principal strategic pressure point is Denver's municipal ordinance (Sec. 24-157), which caps the number of syringe service programs at three and restricts them from operating within 1,000 feet of schools or daycares; HRAC is actively campaigning to repeal this restriction to scale fixed-site operations across the city.
Harm Reduction Action Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harm Reduction Action Center
- Legal name
- Harm Reduction Action Center
- Website
- https://harmreductionactioncenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Harm Reduction Action Center is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides syringe access, naloxone, testing, and harm reduction services to people who inject drugs through a fixed site, mobile outreach, and policy advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harm Reduction Action Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Health Harm Reduction Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)
Keywords
Where Harm Reduction Action Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Harm Reduction Action Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tax-exempt donations: The organization relies entirely on charitable donations from the public. Tax-exempt donations are used to expand services, provide naloxone, supply safer injection and safer sex supplies, snacks, and maintain the drop-in center.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Harm Reduction Action Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Harm Reduction Action Center provides free, direct harm reduction services to people who inject drugs (PWID) in Denver, including syringe access, naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, HIV/HCV/STI testing, wound and vein care, health education, street outreach, and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment. Services are delivered through a fixed-site location operating Monday through Friday 9am-12pm and a mobile syringe access program serving high drug-traffic areas three afternoons per week, complemented by on-demand syringe cleanup in partnership with 911, neighborhood clean-ups, policy advocacy, and technical assistance for healthcare providers and law enforcement.
Product overview
The Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC) is Colorado's largest public health agency serving people who inject drugs (PWID), established in 2002. It is not a software technology company but a direct-service nonprofit providing a coordinated suite of harm reduction programs. The core offerings are: (1) a Fixed-Site Syringe Access Program at 112 E. 8th Ave., Denver, providing sterile syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, HIV/HCV/STI testing, wound/vein care, hygiene products, food, and referrals; (2) a Mobile Syringe Access Program conducting outreach 3 afternoons per week; (3) an On-Demand Syringe Cleanup partnership with 911; (4) street outreach; (5) health education materials and zines in English and Spanish; (6) a PWID Advisory Committee-driven governance model; (7) policy/advocacy work at the statewide and city level; and (8) healthcare provider technical assistance and training. These services are integrated under a single nonprofit umbrella focused on reducing HIV, HCV, and overdose deaths among Denver's PWID population.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Syringe Access Program (Fixed Site) Fixed-site syringe exchange operating Monday through Friday from 9am-12pm at 112 E. 8th Ave., Denver, CO 80203, providing sterile syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, HIV/HCV/STI testing, wound and vein care, hygiene products, food access, mail and phone access, and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment.
- Mobile Syringe Access Program Mobile syringe exchange conducted Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, reaching high-drug-traffic areas and serving PWID participants unable to visit the fixed site.
- On-Demand Syringe Cleanup (911 Partnership) On-call syringe cleanup services across the Denver metro area in partnership with 911, disposing of improperly discarded syringes found in public spaces to protect public safety.
- Street Outreach Physically brings harm reduction resources directly to people who use drugs in their environments; conducts mobile syringe exchange and participant intakes to enroll PWID in public health services.
- Naloxone (Narcan) Distribution Naloxone and overdose prevention education provided to all enrolled participants; distribution post-incarceration at four Metro-County jails per 2015 legislation.
- Fentanyl Test Strips Distribution Fentanyl test strips provided to enrolled participants to test substances for the presence of fentanyl, reducing overdose risk.
- HIV/HCV/STI Testing On-demand testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections available to participants at the Denver fixed site.
- Health Education Classes and Zines Educational materials including zines on methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, and wound care, plus COVID-19 and person-first language infographics, available in English and Spanish.
- Healthcare Provider Technical Assistance Training, tours, and technical assistance for healthcare providers, law enforcement, criminal justice institutions, and medical/nursing/pharmacy students on harm reduction practices.
- Policy and Advocacy Initiatives Statewide and citywide harm reduction policy advocacy, including syringe decriminalization, Good Samaritan laws, naloxone expansion, and overdose prevention center authorization.
- Syringe Access Volunteer Program Volunteer-run access table providing sterile syringes and promoting services including Medicaid enrollment and Narcan training, operating Monday through Friday 9am to Noon.
- Volunteer Internship Program Unpaid seasonal internships offering direct service, data entry, community outreach, and policy experience; BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people who use drugs are encouraged to apply.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6,000,000 used syringes disposed of properly since 2012
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Harm Reduction Action Center
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Harm Reduction Action Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Harm Reduction Action Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Local Medical Professionals / Denver and Aurora HospitalscoreIn 2020, HRAC partnered with local medical professionals to develop and administer a survey of Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient clinicians at local hospitals in the Denver and Aurora area. The survey was also reviewed by the People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) Advisory Committee. The goal was to understand healthcare provider attitudes toward PWID to develop interventions improving quality of care.
- 911 Emergency ServicescoreHRAC partners with 911 to provide on-demand syringe cleanup efforts throughout the City of Denver. This partnership ensures proper disposal of syringes found in public spaces.
- Denver Department of Public Health and EnvironmentcoreThree syringe exchanges operate in the city subject to the rules and regulations of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Two have been operating fixed sites since February 2012.
- Amazon Wish List / Local Hotels, Businesses, RestaurantsminorLocal businesses provide in-kind donations including supplies for the drop-in center. Hotels, businesses, and restaurants donate to help maintain operational supplies.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Harm Reduction Action Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Drug Policy Alliance: Largest US drug policy reform organization focused on advocacy and legislative change rather than direct service. Broad incumbent operating in the same harm reduction policy space where HRAC has passed 15 state/city initiatives.
- amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research): Major HIV/AIDS research and advocacy foundation with funding programs targeting syringe access and harm reduction. Broad incumbent funder/advocate overlapping with HRAC's HIV/HCV prevention mission.
Direct peers
- National Harm Reduction Coalition: The leading national harm reduction nonprofit providing syringe access support, training, advocacy, and capacity building for local programs. Direct peer in the harm reduction services and policy advocacy space.
- Washington Heights CORNER Project: NYC-based syringe exchange and harm reduction program serving PWID in upper Manhattan. Direct peer in fixed-site syringe access and PWID-led programming.
- Vermont CARES: Vermont-based syringe exchange and harm reduction organization operating multiple sites statewide. Direct peer with comparable service offerings and rural/small-state footprint.
- Prevention Point Philadelphia: One of the oldest syringe exchange programs in the US, providing syringe access, naloxone, and primary care to PWID. Direct peer with the same fixed-site and mobile service model as HRAC.
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Major Bay Area nonprofit operating syringe access sites, naloxone distribution, and HIV/HCV testing. Comparable service mix to HRAC including drug user health programs and policy advocacy.
- Chicago Recovery Alliance: Long-running Chicago harm reduction organization running syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, and drug user activism. Direct peer in the syringe access and harm reduction service category.
- North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition: Statewide harm reduction organization operating syringe access, naloxone distribution, and policy advocacy. Direct peer serving people who inject drugs through fixed sites and mobile outreach.
- New York Harm Reduction Educators: NYC harm reduction nonprofit providing syringe access, peer support, and advocacy. Direct peer in the East Coast harm reduction service ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harm Reduction Action Center social profiles
Digital presenceHarm Reduction Action Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harm Reduction Action Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Harm Reduction Action Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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Harm Reduction Action Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Harm Reduction Action Center
What does Harm Reduction Action Center do?
The Harm Reduction Action Center provides free, direct harm reduction services to people who inject drugs (PWID) in Denver, including syringe access, naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, HIV/HCV/STI testing, wound and vein care, health education, street outreach, and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment. Services are delivered through a fixed-site location operating Monday through Friday 9am-12pm and a mobile syringe access program serving high drug-traffic areas three afternoons per week, complemented by on-demand syringe cleanup in partnership with 911, neighborhood clean-ups, policy advocacy, and technical assistance for healthcare providers and law enforcement.
Is Harm Reduction Action Center a public or private company?
Harm Reduction Action Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harm Reduction Action Center founded?
Harm Reduction Action Center was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Harm Reduction Action Center based?
Harm Reduction Action Center is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Harm Reduction Action Center make money?
One revenue line is on record: tax-exempt donations.
Who are Harm Reduction Action Center's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Drug Policy Alliance and amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research). Direct peers are National Harm Reduction Coalition, Washington Heights CORNER Project, Vermont CARES, Prevention Point Philadelphia, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Chicago Recovery Alliance, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and New York Harm Reduction Educators.
Does Harm Reduction Action Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harm Reduction Action Center.
What industry is Harm Reduction Action Center in?
Harm Reduction Action Center's product category is Public Health Harm Reduction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAO, Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGACAE, Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.