named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
NEXT Distro
Mail-based harm reduction program that provides naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other overdose prevention supplies directly to people who use drugs across the U.S.
State Policy Resource
Comprehensive compilation of state laws related to syringe access, naloxone availability, and Good Samaritan protections, developed in partnership with the Network for Public Health Law.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Substance Use Policy Advocacy & Public Education 2 activities
- Development and dissemination of harm reduction educational resourcesCreates and distributes educational materials and tools to support harm reduction, including a Social Support Guide, a fact sheet on reducing drug-related stigma titled 'Respect to Connect: Undoing Stigma', a 4-minute opioid overdose response training, and a Resource Library covering safer drug use, overdose prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and wound care. These resources are developed with community input and are accessible online.
- Policy advocacy and public education on state-level harm reduction lawsProduces and maintains a state-by-state policy tool on nextdistro.org/policies, developed in partnership with the Network for Public Health Law, to improve public understanding of harm reduction-related laws and policies. The tool is designed for accessibility across reading levels and supports advocacy efforts.
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Opioid Harm Reduction Services 1 activity
- Mail-based harm reduction supply distributionOperates a free, full-service mail-based harm reduction program that distributes sterile syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other supplies to people who use drugs, particularly those underserved by in-person programs. The program serves all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, with over 148,000 packages shipped since 2017, and includes safer smoking supplies and wound care materials. Daily operations include packing and shipping, supported by approximately $7,000–$7,800 in monthly shipping costs.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advancing racial equity in harm reduction through community-engaged strategy developmentDevelops and maintains a publicly accessible BIPOC workplan to advance racial equity in harm reduction, with ongoing input from community members, participants, and peers. The strategy is developed through open feedback mechanisms and aims to center equity in organizational practice and harm reduction more broadly.
- Research on mail-based harm reduction services and policy barriersConducts research on the effectiveness and policy barriers of mail-based harm reduction services, including a National Institutes of Health-funded study led by Dr. Czarina Navos Behrends to evaluate NEXT’s programs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.22M
Contributions & grants$2.21M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$2.65M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$1.36M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.68M
Cash$723K
Investments$0
Liabilities$897K
Net assets$779K
Liquid reserves3.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -29.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOANN GOMEZ | INTERIM EXEC | 40 | $3K |
board members · 4
- ANDREW REYNOLDS — SECRETARY
- TALEED EL-SABAWI — MEMBER
- TRACEY HELTON MITCHEL — MEMBER
- TRACIE GARDNER — BOARD PRESID
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- BIPOC communities Partner — Collaborates with Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities through open feedback and co-development of its racial equity strategy.
- Black Lives Matter Partner — Utilizes training guides from Black Lives Matter, such as 'Tools for Addressing Chapter Conflict,' in its conflict resolution and organizational development work.
- Drug Policy Alliance Partner — Co-produced an anti-stigma glossary with Peer Network of New York to advance language reform in drug policy discourse.
- Florida Harm Reduction Collective Partner — Network partner redefining public health in Florida through syringe access, overdose prevention, and healthcare equity for marginalized populations.
- Grand Rapids Red Project Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in Michigan
- Gwayakobimaadiziwin / Bad River Harm Reduction Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in Wisconsin
- HEPPAC Partner — Became NEXT’s first full-service affiliate program, delivering mail-based harm reduction services across California.
- Harm Reduction Coalition Partner — Collaborates on educational materials, including sharing instructions for using fentanyl test strips.
- Harm Reduction Coalition Partner — National advocacy and capacity-building partner focused on promoting health and dignity for communities impacted by drug use.
- Harm Reduction International Partner — Shares educational resources on racism and decolonization in global drug policy, including webinar series and related materials.
- Harm Reduction Ohio Partner — Ohio-based nonprofit partner legally authorized to distribute naloxone and advance science-based drug policies.
- Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center Partner — Partner organization providing comprehensive health and harm reduction services in Hawai’i.
- Indiana Recovery Alliance Partner — Statewide grassroots partner implementing harm reduction interventions and policy transformation in Indiana and the Midwest.
- Maine Access Points Partner — Mutual aid partner providing drug user health services, advocacy, and education across Maine through community networks.
- National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors Partner — Co-hosted a webinar on expanding harm reduction access using online and mail-based services.
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing Funder — Provided a Rapid Response grant to support the development of the Social Support Guide.
- National Harm Reduction Coalition Network — Engages with resources and frameworks from the National Harm Reduction Coalition on intersectional harm reduction movements.
- Network for Public Health Law Partner — Collaborated to launch a state-by-state policy tool on harm reduction laws accessible to diverse reading levels.
- Network for Public Health Law Partner — Collaborates to compile and update state-level harm reduction policy resources.
- Northwest Arkansas Harm Reduction Partner — Local partner based in Fayetteville offering naloxone and harm reduction supply distribution in Northwest Arkansas.
- Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in Oklahoma
- Open Aid Alliance Partner — Partner organization committed to overcoming stigma and supporting individual healing through harm reduction.
- Peer Network of New York Partner — Collaborated on the production of an anti-stigma glossary to reduce drug-related stigma through language.
- Reframe Health & Justice Partner — Collaborated over several months to develop and publish NEXT’s BIPOC Workplan.
- SANE Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in California
- The DOPE Project Partner — Partnered to make California NEXT’s first affiliated state for mail-based harm reduction services.
- Trac-B Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in Nevada
- Trystereo Partner — Operational partner for syringe access services in Louisiana
- United States Postal Service Partner — Utilizes USPS as an essential service to mail harm reduction supplies during the COVID-19 emergency.
- VOCAL-NY Partner — Hosted NEXT Distro as a Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange program in New York State.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Harm Reduction as Gateway to Caremethodology: harm_reduction_as_gatewayBy providing syringe exchange and other harm reduction services, the organization connects people who use drugs to care and treatment pathways they might not otherwise access, because trust built through non-judgmental, low-threshold services creates openings for engagement with broader health supports.
- Integrated Overdose Preventionmethodology: integrated_overdose_preventionBy combining fentanyl test strip distribution with naloxone access, the organization reduces overdose risk more effectively than either intervention alone, because testing without reversal capacity leaves individuals vulnerable during use.
- Peer-Led Harm Reduction Modelmethodology: peer_led_programmingBy involving people with lived experience in program design, outreach, and support, the organization increases trust and effectiveness, because peer relationships foster authenticity, reduce stigma, and improve engagement in safety practices.
- Racial Equity-Centered Harm Reductionmethodology: racial_equity_centered_harm_reductionBy centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and actively confronting systemic racism in harm reduction, the organization improves health equity and program relevance, because addressing structural white supremacy is essential to building trust and delivering effective services to marginalized communities.
- Remote-First Harm Reduction Accessmethodology: remote_distributionBy delivering harm reduction supplies and resources through mail and online platforms, the organization increases access for people unable or unwilling to attend in-person programs, because remote models reduce barriers related to geography, stigma, and legal risk.