Harm Reduction
Harm reduction practices are evidence-based public health policies and strategies designed to reduce the harms associated with drug use and other high-risk activities.
What we do
Some of Northwestern Health Unit’s (NWHU) harm reduction services include the following.
- Needle Distribution
- Safe Needle Disposal
- Help to prevent opioid overdose deaths
- Opioids in our communities
- Drug alerts
Needle Distribution
The Needle Distribution Program provides education and new sterile equipment to people who use drugs to decrease the spread of blood-borne infections (HIV, Hepatitis B and C) in our communities, without increasing drug use.
See our Sharps Box and Needle Distribution Sites page for information about needle distribution sites.
Safe Needle Disposal
The Safe Needle Disposal program works to reduce the number of improperly discarded needles by providing education, sharps containers to clients, and mounted containers in our communities.
If you find a discarded needle, you should know how to pick it up safely. NWHU provides education and pick-up kits for people if they find a needle in their community. The following links can help:
If you use prescribed injected medications, a pharmacy can give you sharps containers; please see Returning Medications – HPSA.
Help to prevent opioid overdose deaths
If you suspect yourself or someone else has overdosed, call 911 immediately.
People who use opioids (e.g., fentanyl, morphine) that are injected, snorted, or swallowed are at risk of an opioid overdose. The risk is high when someone uses an opioid differently than its prescribed use or by using unregulated or “street” drugs. When using unregulated drugs, what’s in it isn’t known; this means opioids could be in any drug and any way you use it could result in an opioid overdose.
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone kits are available to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as their friends, family, and supporters of people who use unregulated drugs. Naloxone is available for free, without a prescription, at some pharmacies, health units, and at other agencies in your community.
Visit our Preventing Opioid Overdose Deaths page to find more information on naloxone, where to access a naloxone kit, and how to use naloxone.
If using drugs, stay safe
You can use the following tips to help stay safe:
- Use one drug at a time
- If you are mixing drugs, use less of each drug.
- If you haven’t used in a few days, use less of the drug as your tolerance will be low.
- If you get your drug from anywhere other than a pharmacy, only use a small amount to start to make sure it is what you were expecting.
- Do not use alone! Buddy up with someone you trust and stagger use, leave your door unlocked, or call someone before to let them know you are about to use. If you must use alone, call NORS 1-888-688-NORS(6677) or use the Lifeguard App; this app is easy to use, and it automatically connects you with the hospital if you become unresponsive.
- Always use all new equipment, and never share or reuse.
- Carry naloxone and know how to use it. Get a Naloxone kit for free, it can reverse or stop an opioid overdose.
Opioids in our communities
NWHU monitors and tracks trends in opioid-related issues in our communities. We work with community partners including police, EMS, hospitals, and First Nations partners to respond to changes and to prevent overdoses.
For more information about opioids in our communities, see our Opioids in our Communities page.
Drug alerts
Drug alerts are a fast and easy way to inform people who use drugs and community members, of potentially toxic drugs circulating in our community that are causing drug poisonings/overdoses. Northwestern Health Unit works with people who use drugs and other community agencies to identify these potential drug toxicities and drug contaminants; you can also report adverse drug events to help with this. Staying informed will help our community to stay healthy.
The Northwestern Health Unit has issued the following Drug Alerts: