Rebuilding a Safe Haven for Future Crises

Happy to report that our services are soon to grow!  We are looking forward to starting a new Hepatitis-C elimination program along with other amazing organizations here on the island. We look forward to being part of a pathway to treatment to this difficult illness that has long been ignored in both Puerto Rico and the United States. It is wonderful to keep adding life-saving street-based services to our already robust suite of services. In Puerto Rico the community of people who use drugs (PWUD), and in particular, those who inject (PWID), have an extremely high rate of Hep-C. Studies on Hep-C in Puerto Rico have been sounding the alarm about this high rate since the early 2000's and in 2015, over 10 years ago, a group of leading researchers called for immidiate public health action (1). It looks like it might be finally happening and we are happy to be part of this public health response to a very needed cause. For more information, you can follow us at intercambios_pr in instagram or in other social network platforms. You can also call us at 787.399.9334 or find us at www.intercambiospr.org

(1) Pérez, C. M., Albizu-García, C. E., & Torres, E. A. (2015). Tackling the Health Challenge posed by Hepatitis C in Puerto Rico: A Call for Immediate Public Health Actions. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, 34(2). Retrieved from https://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/1258

The the past few months we have been working on, and have been approved for, providing better treatment services. In particular we can now provide buprenorphine and have our participants receive the medication paid by Medicaid (if you have qualified health insurance, of course).  It you don't we will find a way, either by referral or by finiding your primary care provider.  Another piece of good news is that our clinic keeps growing as we received new funding to increase our services even further in Fajardo (and then to Ceiba and Luquillo).  Looking forward to receiving more people who are stuggling with substance use and/or mental health.  Please give us a call at 787.399.9338 and chat with us about your needs and we will connect you to the right people to engage in change!  And remember we also have specialized teams in providing recovery services and another for people experiancing homelessness in the easter area of the island (which now include the San Juan Metro area).