205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Lauren Wickerath, BSN Harm Reduction Specialist lauren.wickerath@co.kittitas.wa.us (509) 859-6274
Kittitas County Public Health Department Front Desk publichealth@co.kittitas.wa.us (509) 962-7515
The Kittitas County Public Health Department uses harm reduction principles to reduce overdoses and the spread of blood borne pathogens, as well as to connect people who use drugs with treatment and recovery resources.
For more information about the services offered through the Harm Reduction Program, please see below.
Please feel free to share our brochure: Public Health Resources and Medication Disposal in Kittitas County
To request printed copies, contact our Harm Reduction Specialist at (509) 859-6274
HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood borne pathogens can be spread by sharing injection equipment. To reduce spread of these infections, the Never Share Syringe Service Program provides residents a place to safely dispose of used syringes and to receive sterile syringes. We also offer free Naloxone, wound supplies, and referrals to community resources and treatment programs, including Medication Assisted Treatment/ Suboxone treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
Naloxone, sold as Narcan, is a drug that reverses an opioid overdose. It is not addictive and is safe to use on anyone who might be experiencing an opioid overdose. It does not work on other types of overdoses. Naloxone does not last long, therefore 911 needs to be called. Anyone who is at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose can carry Naloxone in Washington State. Anyone can order Naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription and insurance may cover the cost.
You can get naloxone for free by:
Medication disposal sites offer a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of any unused or expired medications. There are ten locations in Kittitas County that provide medication disposal:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens the immune system. Hepatitis C is a virus that damages the liver. Both of these illnesses are spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. Both HIV and Hepatitis C can be treated, and Hepatitis C can often be cured. Two other forms of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A and B, can be prevented by vaccination.
The Kittitas County Public Health Department offers educational presentations, outreach, and referral for testing to at-risk individuals to help reduce the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis infections in Kittitas County.
