Overview
Gua’kia is a community-based harm reduction initiative serving people who use drugs in the Río Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2019, Gua’kia emerged in response to the lack of syringe exchange and HIV and Hepatitis C prevention services in the area, centering the knowledge, lived experience, and leadership of people who use drugs. Gua’kia provides syringe exchange services and distributes harm reduction supplies to reduce the risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other injection-related harms, as well as safer sex, smoking, and snorting supplies. Services are delivered through outreach in multiple community locations, with an emphasis on accessibility, dignity, and nonjudgmental care. In addition to syringe exchange, Gua’Kia offers linkage and referrals to health and social services upon request, supporting participants in navigating care related to health, prevention, and other basic needs. The program follows a participant-centered and empowerment-based approach, recognizing the autonomy and expertise of people who use substances. Since resuming operations in 2023, Gua’Kia has expanded its outreach routes from three to six locations across San Juan, including Río Piedras and Trujillo Alto, and adjusted service days to better align with participants’ work schedules.
