Current Austin Locations
FAQ
N.I.C.E. stands for Naloxone In Case of Emergency. We started off as people in various positions in the fight for liberation for Austin’s drug user population. We know from experience that harm reduction is the path to the best outcomes for our communities. This includes needs based syringe and other safer use supply services, zero barrier access to these services, and widespread naloxone distribution. We strive to provide these services through the mutual aid model.
Harm reduction is a social justice movement and a set of practical strategies and ideas that recognize the harms of criminalization and the Drug War. We hold our focus on liberatory harm reduction, which is rooted in self determination and in community values that has a true root cause analysis that understands the interconnectedness of state violence and white supremacy and patriarchy and trauma. “Liberatory Harm Reduction is a philosophy and set of empowerment-based practices that teaches us how to accompany each other as we transform the root causes of harm in our lives. We put our values into action using real life strategies to reduce the negative health, legal, and social consequences that result from criminalized and stigmatized life experiences such as drug use, sex, the sex trade, sex work, surviving intimate partner violence, self injury, eating disorders, and any other survival strategies deemed morally or socially unacceptable. Liberatory harm reductionists support each other and our communities without judgment, stigma, or coercion. And we do not force others to change. We envision a world without racism, capitalism, patriarchy, misogyny, ableism, transphobia, policing, surveillance, and other systems of violence. Liberatory harm reduction is true self determination and total body autonomy.” A more in-depth definition is described by the Author of Saving Our Own Lives Shira Hassan here.
We have a few initiatives going: our Narcan distribution hubs, which can be vending machines or dispensers around town, as well as our community outreach safer use supply and syringe service program. We love our neighbors and believe in community, and we know that we are safer when overdoses are reversed quickly and when police aren’t sent to our neighborhoods.
Our vending machines and dispensers were our first initiative, which provide nasal naloxone/Narcan free of charge. All you have to bring is a desire to carry naloxone/Narcan! We stock our machines regularly and frequently, but it is worth it to keep the community in a reliable supply of this life-saving medication. The dispensers are little metal boxes set up around town, and are stocked by collaborating organizations. A list of those sites can be found here.
We expanded our project to include community outreach where we do much more than provide supplies for safer use. We also provide meals, clothes, wound care, hygiene care, and other vital supplies to get our neighbors’ needs met. Since doing this work, there have been strong bonds built and many lives saved. Please see our outreach schedule here.
Besides this connection and community building, we also participate in some other important initiatives around town, in hopes of breaking down the stronghold that the Drug War has on our community.
Absolutely. Please see this video for information on how to reverse an opioid overdose. It ONLY works if opioids are present in the person you’re administering it to. Naloxone may cause withdrawal symptoms in someone who is opioid dependent, which is why it’s best to give it one dose at a time, waiting a few minutes in between doses, rescue breathing for the person the whole time until they are breathing on their own or medical help arrives. Naloxone cannot hurt someone if it is expired or if it has been stored improperly. When in doubt, just give it and do rescue breathing until help arrives.
Thanks for asking! This is a community project, and we would love to work with what skills, offerings, and donations you have already at your fingertips! This can include packing naloxone kits for the vending machines, which looks like this, or if you’ve been directly impacted by the Drug War, we’d love to have you sign up to volunteer at our outreach shifts.
Yes, please. We have patreon if you would like to become a sustaining donor, and cashapp if you would like to make a one-time donation. Feel free to contact us about any collaborations or larger gifts. We greatly appreciate any all contributions to our project!