What Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition does

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition (KyHRC) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based nonprofit that delivers community-led harm reduction services to people who use drugs and to the wider public. Its core programs include naloxone (Narcan) distribution, syringe exchange through multiple Louisville locations, distribution of fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, a Wellness Lounge, and a mobile Medications for Opioid Use Disorder unit. A flagship capability is Kentucky's first mail-based distribution program for naloxone and test strips, which extended the organization's reach to 118 of the state's 120 counties in 2023, alongside in-person syringe service programs at partner sites including Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hazelwood, the Lake Dreamland Fire Department, and the Southwest Government Center.

The operational foundation is a 9-employee team led by Executive Director Shreeta Waldon, supplemented by volunteers and partner organizations. Distribution is multi-channel: fixed-location syringe service programs, mobile outreach, mail-based fulfillment, and community events. KyHRC trains community members and businesses (for example, local bars such as Baxter's 942 and Outlook Inn) in naloxone administration and places rescue kits at high-risk venues. The organization runs on donations and grants — services are free to recipients — and reports outcome metrics such as 15,000 naloxone kits distributed, 5,745 individuals trained, a 5% decrease in Kentucky overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022, and a 12.9% decrease in non-fatal overdose emergency department visits in 2022.

Revenue mechanics rely entirely on philanthropy and grants; the prominent "Save a Life for $40" donation unit-economics framing and the publication of funder reports indicate a fundraising-led operating model rather than fee-for-service revenue. Strategic partnerships — most notably Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, VOCAL-KY, Target 4 Region 5, and community venues — anchor service delivery, while earned media coverage on the Today Show and in the New York Times supports awareness and donor conversion.

Name

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition

Legal name

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition

Website

https://kyhrc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition is a Louisville-based nonprofit that distributes naloxone, syringes, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV/Hep C testing, and MOUD services to people who use drugs across Kentucky via in-person syringe exchanges and a mail-based statewide network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Harm Reduction Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Harm reduction services
• Syringe exchange programs
• Overdose prevention supplies
• Naloxone distribution
• Substance use support

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies on donations from the public, with a prominent 'Save a Life for $40' donation campaign. Services are provided free of charge to recipients.
2. Grant Funding: As a non-profit, KyHRC receives funding from various funders. The organization publishes funder reports and receives support from government and private sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition provides free, low-barrier harm reduction services and supplies across Kentucky, including naloxone/Narcan distribution and training, syringe exchange, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV/Hepatitis C testing, harm reduction training, recovery resource navigation, a Wellness Lounge, and a mobile Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) unit. The organization also pioneered mail-based distribution of naloxone and test strips, enabling statewide reach to 118 of Kentucky's 120 counties.

Product overview

The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition (KyHRC) operates as a grassroots harm reduction organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services centered on overdose prevention, syringe exchange, and substance use disorder support. The core offerings include naloxone/Narcan distribution, syringe service programs (syringe exchange), fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV/Hepatitis C testing, harm reduction training, and a wellness lounge. KyHRC pioneered Kentucky's first mail-based distribution program for naloxone and test strips, enabling statewide reach across 118 of 120 counties. The organization also operates mobile MOUD units and provides naloxone rescue kits for emergency overdose response. These products and services work together to engage, educate, and empower individuals affected by substance use, with the goal of reducing overdose deaths and preventing the transmission of blood-borne diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Naloxone/Narcan Distribution Free distribution of naloxone (brand name Narcan), a medication that reverses opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors for 30-90 minutes to reverse respiratory depression. Distributed to individuals, community members, and businesses across Kentucky.
• Syringe Service Program (Syringe Exchange) Free syringe exchange services providing sterile syringes and safe use supplies to prevent HIV and Hepatitis C transmission among people who inject drugs. Operated at multiple Louisville locations including Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hazelwood, Lake Dreamland Fire Department, and Southwest Government Center.
• Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Free distribution of fentanyl test strips that allow drug users to detect whether fentanyl, a strong synthetic opioid, is present in their drugs in order to promote safer use practices.
• Xylazine Test Strip Distribution Mail-based distribution of xylazine test strips that detect xylazine, a non-opioid sedative, in drugs to enable safer use practices and reduce overdose risk.
• HIV/Hepatitis C Testing Free HIV and Hepatitis C testing offered in partnership with Target 4 Region 5 at various syringe exchange and community event locations to prevent disease transmission among people who use drugs.
• Wellness Lounge A physical health and wellness sanctuary in Louisville offering holistic well-being support, resources, and community connection for individuals seeking support on their health and recovery journey.
• Harm Reduction Training Free training programs that educate individuals, community members, and organizations on harm reduction practices, naloxone administration, and overdose prevention techniques. Delivered at community events, syringe service program sites, and through partnerships with local businesses such as bars and restaurants.
• Recovery Resources Free resource navigation connecting individuals to addiction treatment, recovery centers, and support services, including access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and addiction psychiatry.
• Mobile MOUD Unit Mobile unit that delivers Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), addiction psychiatry, and related healthcare services at various community locations to expand treatment access across Kentucky.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% decrease in Kentucky overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louisville Metro Public Health (LMPHW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyHRC was the first grassroots harm reduction organization to work with LMPHW to provide a Syringe Service Program, establishing a foundational public health partnership for harm reduction services in Louisville.
• VOCAL-KY (Voices of Community Activists and Leaders Kentucky)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyHRC collaborates with VOCAL-KY on advocacy initiatives including International Overdose Awareness Day rallies, policy advocacy for housing and treatment access, and ending drug overdoses in Kentucky. VOCAL-KY Director Shameka Parrish-Wright works with KyHRC leadership on community organizing.
• Target 4 Region 5minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for HIV and Hepatitis C testing services at community events and syringe service program locations, providing integrated testing alongside harm reduction supplies.
• Lake Dreamland Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity venue partnership providing space for regular syringe service program events, naloxone training, and HIV/Hep C testing services at the fire station location.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NEXT Distro: A national mail-based harm reduction program distributing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other supplies by mail; the closest functional analog to KyHRC's pioneering mail-based distribution model.
• VOCAL-NY: Member-led harm reduction and drug policy advocacy organization; directly comparable to KyHRC's VOCAL-KY partnership and broader community organizing, policy, and overdose reversal work.
• Chicago Recovery Alliance: Long-running grassroots harm reduction program delivering syringe exchange, naloxone, test strips, and drug-checking through community outreach — directly comparable to KyHRC's core operating model.
• North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition: State-level harm reduction coalition operating syringe services, naloxone distribution, and advocacy with community-led outreach — directly comparable in mission, scope, and operating model to KyHRC.
• Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition: Community-led harm reduction organization providing syringe services, naloxone, and street-based outreach in a U.S. Southern city; directly comparable to KyHRC in service mix and grassroots operating style.

Others

• Drug Policy Alliance: National drug policy advocacy organization; comparable in that KyHRC's advocacy work (overdose awareness, policy reform) sits adjacent to DPA's broader decriminalization and harm reduction legislative agenda.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Established nonprofit operating syringe services, naloxone, HIV/Hep C testing, and harm reduction programming; directly comparable service mix, though larger and more institutionally mature than KyHRC.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: National umbrella and capacity-building organization for harm reduction; directly comparable as the most prominent harm reduction body in the U.S., providing technical assistance, training, and advocacy to local harm reduction programs including KyHRC.
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: Healthcare nonprofit providing syringe services, naloxone, and clinical care to people who use drugs and experience homelessness; comparable mission and bundled clinical + harm reduction model, though with a much larger clinical footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-harm-reduction-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition