When we tell the stories of local businesses and community initiatives here in Rome, it is just as important to shine a light on the more challenging realities our neighbors face. I recently sat down with Beth Lambert, a person in long-term recovery who is leading a new grassroots street outreach initiative called Stay Harmless. After noticing gaps in services for those seeking recovery or currently using substances, Beth established this organization to bring mobile, “boots on the ground” harm reduction and prevention to the Rome area.
The Team and Their Expertise
The Stay Harmless team operates with a deep understanding of the struggles they are trying to alleviate, navigating this mission while balancing their own full-time jobs.
- Beth has been in long-term recovery for six years from substance issues, and it has been seven years since her last incarceration.
- She holds an extensive list of certifications, including Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist (CARES), Harm Reduction Specialist, and Certified Peer Specialist in both Mental Health and Medicated Assisted Treatment.
- The team consists of three people, including Beth’s and two volunteers, all of whom are individuals in long-term recovery.
- Because they work during the day, the team dedicates their personal time, lunch breaks, and weekends to meet with and support the community.
What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction can be a difficult concept for some to embrace, but it is an evidence-based public health approach. Rather than demanding immediate abstinence, the primary goal is to keep people safe, prevent fatal overdoses, and stop the spread of disease while they are still struggling.
- Stay Harmless operates as a Syringe Service Program (SSP), providing a one-for-one clean needle exchange to help stop the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV.
- This exchange system ensures that dirty syringes are safely collected from the community and kept out of local parks and roadsides.
- They distribute free condoms, Naloxone (Narcan) to reverse opioid overdoses, and test strips for fentanyl and xylazine—an animal tranquilizer that has heavily infiltrated the drug supply and causes severe wounds.
- There is currently a 24/7 access box for free Narcan located outside Brother’s Place, with hopes of placing a second box in the community.
Going Beyond the Supplies
The outreach extends far beyond safe use supplies. The Stay Harmless team works to humanize the people they serve, choosing to use terms like “unsheltered” instead of homeless, and “person with a substance use disorder” instead of addict to break down stigma.
- They build and distribute hygiene kits that include shaving cream, razors, no-rinse soap, tampons, pads, and toothbrushes.
- They provide specialized supplies and education to help individuals safely clean and care for their own wounds.
- Through community networking, they connect individuals with mutual aid—helping them navigate the process of getting a birth certificate or ID, or coordinating placement into detox and sober living facilities when they are ready to ask for treatment.
Overcoming Obstacles and Stigma
Beth acknowledges that their work faces pushback. “I think the challenge is going to be encountering people that look at giving out safe use supplies as like enabling people to use drugs,” she explained. However, she stresses that having Narcan and clean supplies does not cause a person to push themselves into an overdose; instead, it prevents fatalities and eases the massive burden placed on our local healthcare system, emergency rooms, and families.
“The goal, of course, is recovery. But that’s not always possible for everybody,” Beth noted. By showing up for people who are highly isolated and covered in shame, the team provides a safe space where individuals realize they are still worthy and loved.
How the Rome Community Can Help
Stay Harmless applied with the Georgia Secretary of State in August 2025 and officially hit the ground running in February. As they are not yet a 501(c)(3), they are entirely volunteer-run and have historically relied on donated supplies from larger national networks like the Nasen Network and Remedy Alliance.
Here is how you can support their mission to make a difference:
- Educate Yourself: Learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose.
- Engage Openly: Be willing to have honest, non-judgmental conversations about addiction and harm reduction in our area.
- Ask Before You Act: If you want to help local organizations, whether it is Stay Harmless, Fork, Spoon and Plate, Living Proof Recovery, Brother’s Place, the Family Resource Center, or the Open Door Home, reach out and ask them exactly what they need to support their mission.
Beth’s ultimate drive for this outreach is beautifully simple: she wants to be the person she desperately needed when she had nobody. Through serious, dedicated work, Stay Harmless is actively proving that a little empathy can save a life.
To learn more or to ask how you can get involved, you can contact Beth directly at beth@stayharmless.org. Follow them on soical Media to learn more about their organization Facebook & Instagram
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For more non-profits in Rome, Georgia check out When In Rome, Ga Non-Profits In Rome.
