The Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center is proud to announce the January 22, 2013 launch of our Pharmacy Program LES Rx in collaboration with Downtown Pharmacy. Our Pharmacy Program allows our participants to obtain their medications at the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center with privacy and confidentiality.
How does the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center (LESHRC) Pharmacy Program work?
LESHRC works in collaboration with Downtown Pharmacy so that participants can get their prescription medications delivered to a safe and secure area inside LESHRC where they can pick them up. LESHRC participants never have to enter a pharmacy if they do not wish to. They can bring their written prescriptions directly to LESHRC and their medications will be delivered to LESHRC by Downtown Pharmacy. Note that participants pick up the whole prescription of medication at one time. This is not a day by day dispensing of medications.
Why is this better for LESRHC participants than picking up their medications at a pharmacy or having them delivered to their homes?
There are numerous advantages for our participants in picking up their medications at LESHRC rather than going to a pharmacy. Our participants often feel judged when they go to a pharmacy for medications, particularly when they are picking up an addiction treatment medication such as buprenorphine (Suboxone) or when they are picking up a medication for the treatment of HIV. Pharmacies also frequently run out of buprenorphine (Suboxone). Many of our participants are homeless or unstably housed and this program gives them a safe and secure place to have their medications delivered. The Pharmacy Program also provides confidentiality for people taking HIV medications since they can get and take them here at LESHRC.
Moreover, the LESHRC Pharmacy Program helps us to meet our aim of being a one stop shop for people who feel uncomfortable getting services elsewhere because of stigma and judgment. The Pharmacy Program gives LESHRC an opportunity to provide our participants with in-depth information about the medication and its side effects; this also provides us with an opportunity to encourage medication adherence and to continue a dialogue with our participants about other issues which might be affecting their health or well-being. Finally, the Pharmacy Program also serves as another way to encourage LESHRC participants to become more engaged in services because enrollment in the pharmacy program must be done through a counselor who will have the participant complete an intake. This is in contrast to drop-in services such as syringe exchange which are provided to all on an as-requested basis.
For further information:
Ms. Lanette Meredith, Resource Counselor Coordinator
212.226.6333, ext. 124
lanette@leshrc.org
