OGs repeatedly report that ineffective management of supplies is the number one potential flashpoint for escalated situations during harm reduction services, because it can make people feel like they are treated unfairly. Because of this, and in the name of fairness, harm reduction leaders had the following special suggestions for managing services and supplies during mobile service delivery:

• Try and determine what the average number of shots are per day for the primary drugs of choice in your area and pack about a week’s worth, with related supplies, in a single larger bag like a paper lunch sack. This makes interactions, especially on foot or bicycle, much more fluid.
• As ever, the best way to understand what your participants need is to ask them directly.
• Make sure to meter out your supplies. This means thinking about your whole shift at the beginning of the shift and trying to retain some of the most sought after supplies for the end of shift. This can help ensure that folks at the end of your routes don’t feel shorted by you running out at the beginning of shift.
• As always, be transparent with participants about what you have, what you don’t have, and/or what’s for only special populations.