A Radical Harm Reduction Collective
Shot in the Dark delivers stigma-free, no-cost, direct access to safe use supplies and harm reduction resources to people who use drugs in Maricopa County.
We’re run entirely by a collective of volunteers driven by a shared desire to take care of each other.
Our Vision and Mission
Vision
We dare to dream of a world where our community is free from the harms and stigmas of drug use.
Mission
To empower and liberate people who use drugs.
Our Beliefs and Values
A core set of beliefs and values serves as a common thread that connects us no matter our background or experiences.
Beliefs
Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.
Access to healthcare is a basic human right.
Harm reduction is healthcare.
When society fails us, we must take care of each other.
Values
Learn from people with lived experience.
Respect each person’s right to govern their own body.
Show up when we say we will.
Create a community that can rely on each other.
Build the world we want to live in.
How It All Started
Sometime around 2010, a couple of friends had enough of a broken system that didn’t care whether their community lived or died. They started delivering clean syringes to fellow drug users.
For the first four years, it was all word of mouth. We delivered to about 20 participants each month.
In 2014, we published our number on National Harm Reduction Coalition and NASEN’s online directories. Our daily calls jumped from 3 to 30. More friends stepped in and started splitting up the days.
Eventually, we had to change our strategies. Today we have fixed locations in the East and West Valley where participants can access a variety of harm reduction resources.
2010 - 2011
A couple of friends started Phoenix Harm Reduction Organization (PHRO), a word-of-mouth syringe delivery service.
PHRO eventually became Sonoran Prevention Works and Shot in the Dark.
2013
Began distributing naloxone.
2014
Published our phone number on online local directories. Daily calls jumped from 3 to 30.
2020
Served on the frontlines of the pandemic through a delivery-only model.
Syringe access legislation passed in Arizona.
2022
Started distributing drug checking materials.
2023
Received grant funding for a heat relief program.
Our Impact Over a Year
3000+ volunteer hours go into powering our sites and services every year. In 2023 we:
8674
Participant interactions
151,680
Sterile syringes distributed
6223
Naloxone kits distributed
315
Reported overdose reversals
The People Behind the Mission
