Health Department seeking grant for Harm Reduction Program

The Berrien County Health Department is seeking funding from the state to help run a harm reduction program, intended to reduce overdoses and encourage people to seek recovery.

Speaking to the county board of commissioners on Thursday, Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller said the initiative would include the establishment of a syringe service program to help those using injectable substances to be safer and seek help. He said the numbers have shown SSPs are effective.

“ New people who are into this syringe service program or the harm reduction program are five times more likely to enter drug treatment and three times more likely to stop using drugs than those who do not enter a program,” Miller said.

Miller added the programs have been shown to reduce HIV rates by 50%. The new har