Skip to main content Skip to footer content
HTDPC Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition
Committees
Committees

Prevention & Harm Reduction

Aims to minimize the negative impacts of risky behaviors, especially in areas like substance use, sexual health, and chronic disease. Improving health outcomes, particularly around behaviors that carry risk—like substance use, smoking, or sexual activity. They differ in focus and approach:

One Pill Can Kill

Committee Chairs

Becky Boxx: Bacon Street Youth & Family Services

Leigh Carroll-Stump: Development and Communications Manager, Colonial Behavioral Health

Resized Rocks
Prevention & Harm Reduction

What is Prevention and Harm Reduction?

Harm reduction is pragmatic and non-judgmental. It meets people where they are, recognizing that not everyone is ready or able to stop risky behaviors immediately. 

  • Prevention focuses on avoiding harmful behavior.

  • Harm reduction focuses on reducing damage when the behavior is already happening.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Harm reduction plays a significant role in preventing drug-related deaths and increasing access to healthcare, social services, and treatment. These services decrease overdose fatalities, acute life-threatening infections related to unsterile drug injection, and chronic diseases (such as HIV and hepatitis C).

Viriginia Department of Health

Comprehensive Harm Reduction (CHR) is a set of public health services. CHR is designed to reduce the negative impact of drug use. 

Locality Results

National Drug Take Back Day (NDTBD)

April 2025

  • James City County - Did not participate
  • Poquoson - 185 lbs.
  • Williamsburg - 625 lbs. (meds), 7 containers (sharps)
  • York County - 12 bags

Total: 810 lbs. + 12 bags of medication, 7 containers of sharps

April 2024

  • James City County - 421 lbs.
  • Poquoson - 70 lbs.
  • Williamsburg - 89 lbs. (meds), 1 gallon. (sharps)
  • York County - 220 lbs.

Total:  800 lbs.  of medication, 1 gallon of sharps

 

October 2024

  • James City County - 197 lbs.
  • Poquoson - 2 bags
  • Williamsburg - 142 lbs. (meds/sharps)
  • York County - 188 lbs.

Total: 527 lbs. + 2 bags of medication/sharps

April 2023

  • James City County - Did not participate
  • Poquoson - 4 bags
  • Williamsburg - 87.8 lbs. (meds), 0.5 gallon. (sharps)
  • York County - 158lbs.

Total: 245.5 lbs. + 4 bags of medication, 0.5 gallon of sharps

 

October 2023

  • James City County - 29 lbs.
  • Poquoson - 2.5 bags
  • Williamsburg - 135lbs. (meds)
  • York County - 175 lbs.

Total: 339 lbs. + 2.5 bags of medication

April 2022

  • James City County - 100 lbs.
  • Poquoson - 63 lbs.
  • Williamsburg - 33lbs. (meds), 16 lbs. (sharps)
  • York County - 275 lbs.

Total: 471 lbs. of medication

 

October 2022

  • James City County - Did not participate
  • Poquoson - 68 lbs.
  • Williamsburg - 56 lbs. (Meds), 14 lbs. (sharps)
  • York County - 275 lbs.

Total: 399 lbs. of medication, 14 lbs. of sharps

April 2021

  • James City County - 274 lbs.
  • Poquoson - 4.5 bags
  • Williamsburg - 122 lbs. (meds), 16 lbs. (sharps)
  • York County - 321 lbs.

Total: 717 lbs. + 4.5 bags of medication, 16 lbs. of sharps

 

October 2021

  • James City County - Did not participate
  • Poquoson - Unknown
  • Williamsburg - Unknown
  • York County - 236 lbs.

Total: 236 lbs. of medication

DEA Collection Site Locator