{"id":17939,"date":"2026-04-08T20:20:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=17939"},"modified":"2026-04-08T20:21:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:21:37","slug":"17939-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/17939-2\/","title":{"rendered":"PATH: Portsmouth Access to Harm Reduction Grand Opening"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>April 8, 2026<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Media Contact<\/strong>: Avanti Allen-Benson, PIO avanti.allen-benson@vdh.virginia.gov (757) 407-0223<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>PATH: Portsmouth Access to Harm Reduction Grand Opening<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PORTSMOUTH, Va. \u2014The Portsmouth Health Department is proud to announce the grand opening of PATH: Portsmouth Access to Harm Reduction, a new comprehensive harm reduction site dedicated to reducing the spread of infectious diseases, preventing overdose deaths, and connecting individuals to essential health and social services.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPATH reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are with compassion, dignity, and practical support,\u201d said Angela Tillery, acting Portsmouth Health Director. \u201cBy offering evidence-based harm reduction services, we can save lives and strengthen the overall health of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This initiative is part of an evidence-based statewide effort to improve health outcomes for people who use drugs and to promote a safer, healthier community.<\/p>\n<p>When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m. \u2013 11:00 a.m.<br \/>\nWhere: Portsmouth Health Department, 1701 High St. Suite 102, Portsmouth, VA 23704<\/p>\n<p>No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are welcome during the following hours:<br \/>\n\u2022 Monday through Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. \u2013 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m.<br \/>\n\u2022 Thursday: 12:30 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>PATH will provide:<br \/>\n\u2022 Access to sterile supplies to reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other infections \u2022 Safe disposal of used supplies \u2022 Overdose prevention education and free naloxone \u2022 HIV and hepatitis C testing and linkage to treatment \u2022 Referrals to substance use treatment, medical care, mental health services, and social support resources \u2022 Education on safer use, wound care, and general health topics<br \/>\nThe Portsmouth Health Department is committed to ensuring that PATH operates as a welcoming, confidential, and non-judgmental space for all community members seeking support.<br \/>\nThe program aligns with the Virginia Department of Health\u2019s mission to protect health and promote well-being for everyone in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about PATH or its available services, please contact the Portsmouth Health Department at Michelle Winz, Epidemiologist Sr., michelle.winz@vdh.virginia.gov, (757) 435-3280 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov\/portsmouth\/.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 8, 2026 Media Contact: Avanti Allen-Benson, PIO avanti.allen-benson@vdh.virginia.gov (757) 407-0223 PATH: Portsmouth Access to Harm Reduction Grand Opening PORTSMOUTH, Va. \u2014The Portsmouth Health Department is proud to announce the grand opening of PATH: Portsmouth Access to Harm Reduction, a new comprehensive harm reduction site dedicated to reducing the spread of infectious diseases, preventing overdose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":0,"parent":16853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[988,1601,1638,1522],"class_list":["post-17939","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-angela-tillery-health-director","tag-harm-reduction-programs","tag-path","tag-portsmouth-health-department"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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