More about Prime+ Peer Program

What is the Prime+ Peer Program?

• The Prime+ Peer Program is a FREE peer support program available to anyone in Tillamook County looking for help with their substance use. Call Melinda at 971-341-1709  or Jennifer at 971-341-1711 if you need support on your recovery journey – whatever stage you are at.

What is the program mission?

• Prevent acute life-threatening outcomes of substance use by providing harm reduction centered overdose prevention education, and facilitating access to Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug.
• Reduce injection-related infections by providing harm reduction centered prevention, education, and facilitating access to safe supplies.
• Support linkage to care, diagnosis and treatment of substance use related conditions, and substance use related infections.
• Linkage to primary care for physical and behavioral health care, infectious disease screening, care and treatment, and other participant identified needs.

Who are Prime+ Peers?

• They are people who have been successful in the recovery process and want to help others experiencing relatable situations. They are Peer Recovery Mentors.
• Through mutual respect and shared understanding, they help people become engaged and committed to the recovery process.
• They work closely with community health providers to identify persons at risk of opioid overdose and establish program referral pathways.

What can Prime+ Peers do?

• Come alongside people and help them identify their needs, develop action steps, and inspire hope that they can and do recover.
• Help people get healthy, stay safe, and engage in appropriate self-care.
• Connect the client with supports such as medical, housing, and counseling resources.
• They bust myths about what it means to have a mental health or substance use disorder.
• They provide self-help education and link people to tools and resources.
• They help individuals in creating a roadmap for success.

 What is harm reduction?

• Harm reduction is an approach to substance use that begins “where people are at.” The focus is on the individual’s goals, and supporting them to make positive changes. This might be doing the behavior more safely, reducing or limiting certain behaviors, or abstinence. 
• The goal of harm reduction is to remove barriers so people may access needed support for positive change, whatever that positive change may be for the individual.

What happens at the harm reduction sites in Tillamook County?

• Tillamook Family Counseling Center and County Public Health staff partner to assist participants with exchanging used needles for sterile needles, offer wound care supplies, prevention kits, Naloxone/ Narcan kits and training, resources, connection with Prime+ Peers, and more.
• Harm reduction sites provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for people to be connected to helpful resources.

When and where are harm reduction sites available in Tillamook County?

• Tillamook
  1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
  Ivy Wellness Center; 1105 Ivy Ave.
• Cloverdale
  2nd Wednesday of the month
  Nestucca Rural Fire & Rescue Station 87 Parking Lot; 30710 US-101
• Wheeler
  4th Wednesday of the month
  Above North County Food Bank; 278 Rowe St., Upper Parking Lot

Tillamook Family Counseling Center’s team includes peer recovery mentors and an experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Program Supervisor.  For program information, please contact:

Prime Plus Peer Project/Tillamook Family Counseling Center

Michele Riggs, LCSW-Program Supervisor

503.842.8201-Agency Number

503.815.5406-DirectLine

micheler@tfcc.org