If you use drugs, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of overdose or infection. HPEPH and community partners offer other harm reduction supplies to help reduce potential risks related to drug use. Safer drug use supplies, including Naloxone, are available at HPEPH offices in Belleville, Bancroft, and Quinte West, and from many participating community partners.
Supplies and resources for safer drug use
Naloxone can help reverse the effects of an opioid related drug poisoning (including oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, morphine and hydromorphone). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist which means it binds to opioid receptors in the body. It is used to help reverse an overdose or drug poisoning of opioids, Naloxone will not work on someone who did not take opioids (however if you are unsure what was substance was taken and you give Naloxone no more harm will befall this person). 911 still should be called immediately as Naloxone is only a temporary fix and will wear off after 30-90 minutes. If the person does not have help after this time it is possible for them to stop breathing again.
If using illicit drugs or someone who is on long term opioids in the family, it is recommended that you have a Naloxone kit. Make sure the Naloxone kit stays at room temperature and is not in direct sunlight. Also mind the expire date as it may not be as effective as one that is not expired.
Needle exchange sites are places where individuals can obtain new needles, sterile water, alcohol swabs, cookers, filters, ascorbic acid, and tourniquets, as well as sharps containers for safe disposal of used needles and cookers. These sharps containers can then be returned to any participating exchange site for safe disposal.
This program has been established to help reduce harm related to injection drug use, and ensure proper and safe disposal of needles in our community.
What is it?
- Made from Pyrex glass that is meant to be used at high temperatures.
- Can be used to smoke drugs in rock form or any drug that produces a vapour.
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- This kit includes:
- 2 straight stems
- 2 push sticks
- 4 packages of the brass screen
- 4 mouthpieces
- One blue ziplock bag
- 4 alcohol swabs
- This kit includes:
How can it help reduce harm?
- Using a mouth piece and brass screen decreases the risk of acquiring or spreading hepatitis B and C and other infections.
- Using clean and safe supplies rather than Brillo or SOS pads will help avoid inhalation of household chemicals.
- Having a personal mouth piece (never sharing) will help reduce spread of infection, as saliva and blood can be transferred through sharing of mouth pieces.
- Alcohol swabs can be used to clean the stem kit.
What is it?
- Bowl pipes made from Pyrex glass, which is durable and meant to be used at high temperatures.
- These pipes can be used to smoke crystal methamphetamines.
- This kit includes:
- 1 bowl pipe
- 2 Condoms
- 4 alcohol swabs
- 4 mouthpieces
- A green ziplock bag
How can it help reduce harm?
- Using a mouth piece decreases the risk of acquiring or spreading hepatitis B and C and other infections.
- Having a personal mouth piece (never sharing) will help reduce spread of infection, as saliva and blood can be transferred through sharing of mouth pieces.
- Alcohol swabs can be used to clean the pipe and mouthpiece.
- Using condoms during any sexual activities will reduce risk of sexually transmitted infection and HIV.
What are they?
- Single use paper straws can be used for snorting drugs that come in a powder or vaporized
How can they help reduce harm?
- Single use straws are a safer option than using paper money or keys, which can be covered in bacteria that may lead to infection.
- Straws should never be shared, in order to avoid transmission of infection.
What is it?
HPEPH provides small or large kits which provide supplies for 5 (small kits) or 20 (large kits) injections.
Kits include:
- 5 or 20 needles with fixed tips
- 5 or 20 Stericup
- 5 or 20 ampoules of sterile water
- 5 or 20 Filters
- 1 or 4 tourniquets
- 10 or 40 alcohol swabs
How can they help reduce harm?
- Drug injecting equipment should never be shared, as sharing equipment can transmit infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
- Using new needles, syringes, cookers each time will help reduce risk of infection.
- Using a new filter for each injection helps cut out large particles which would otherwise be injected into the bloodstream.
Other resources:
- Fact Sheet – Health Canada
- 5 Steps to Respond to an Opioid Overdose – Ontario Ministry of Health
- Find out more about safer drug use supplies
- Naloxone in the workplace kit and training – Ontario Ministry of Health
To find safer drug use supplies, please contact:
Safer Drug Use Supply Locations
- Belleville Freedom Support Centre ,
391 Front St., Belleville
613-969-1772
Mon-Fri 10:30 am-2:30 pm - Belleville & Quinte West CHC,
161 Bridge St. W., Belleville
613-962-0000 Ext. 233
Mon/Tue/Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Wed/Thur 8:30 am-8 pm
Closed between 12pm-1pm - OATC Belleville,
125 Church St. S, Belleville
**Naloxone not available
613-969-7862
Mon-Fri 7am-3 pm
Sat & Sun 9 am-12 pm
*Closed 12 pm-1:15pm - HPEPH Belleville Office,
179 N. Park St Belleville, K8P 4P1
613-966-5500
Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm - Bridge St. Church,
60 Bridge St. E, Belleville
Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Dellar’s IDA,
249 Victoria St N., Tweed
613-478-2115
Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:30pm
Sat 9:00am – 12:00pm - Gateway Community Health Centre,
41 McClellan St, Tweed
**Naloxone Only**
613-921-1229
Mon & Fri 8:30 to 4:30
Tues, Wed, Thurs 8:30 to 8pm
Closed for lunch - Johnston’s Pharmacy,
57 Lawrence St. E, Madoc
613-473-4112
Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pm
Sat 9 am-5 pm - Marmora Medical Centre,
1 Madoc Street, Marmora
613-472-6131 ext 709
Monday 8am-7pm
Tuesday– Friday 8am-4pm - TeleMed Marmora,
38 Forsyth St, Marmora
613-644-0404
Mon-Fri 9am – 4:30pm
- Change Healthcare,
266 Main St., Picton
613-476-3636
Wed 8am – 4pm (closed 12:30-1PM)
Fri 9am – 1pm
Sun 9am-12pm - Wellington Pharmacy,
274 Main St., Wellington
613-399-2420
Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm
Sat 9 am-2 pm - Prince Edward Family Health Team
35 Bridge Street, Picton
613-476-0400
Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm
- New Beginnings Support Centre,
76 Dundas St. W., Trenton
613-394-3449
Mon-Fri 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. - HPEPH Quinte West Office,
499 Dundas St. W., Trenton
613-966-5500 ext. 801
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Community Partners for Success,
50 Elgin St., Trenton
613-965-1167 or 613-243-8131
Mon/Wed – 9:30am-2:00pm
Tue/Thurs – 11:00am-2:00pm
Fri 9:30am-12:00pm - Belleville & Quinte West CHC,
69 Catherine St., Trenton
613-965-0698 ext. 100
Mon/Tues/Fri-8:30 AM-4:30 pm
Wed/Thurs 8:30 am-8 pm
- Community Well Being,
50 Meadow Drive, Deseronto
613-967-0122
Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Quinte Health Care NH Hospital
1H Manor Ln., Bancroft, K0L 1C0
613-332-2825 ext. 6232
Open 24/7 - The ROOT c/o N Hasting Family Health Team
16 Billa St., Bancroft, K0L 1C0
1-613-332-1565 ext. 251
By appointment only - Shopper’s Drug Mart
118 Hastings St. N, Bancroft, K0L 1C0
1-613-332-4846 options 3 and 3
7 days per week 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Bancroft Support Centre
23 Bridge St. W, Bancroft (Life House)
1-613-332-4056
Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - North Hastings Family Pharmacy
217 Hastings St. N, Bancroft, K0L 1C0
1-613-332-6700
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. - OATC Bancroft
89 Hastings St. N, Bancroft K0L 1C0
**Naloxone Not Available
1-613-332-0660
Monday, Thursday, Friday 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays - HPEPH North Hastings Office
1P Manor Ln., Bancroft, K0L 1C0
613-966-5500 ext. 934
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12 to 1 p.m.)
Self-serve kiosk - North Hastings Community Trust
19 Valleyview Dr., Bancroft, K0L 1C0
613-332-3657
Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed Monday
Find more information about participating local pharmacies.
Other Naloxone Resources
- Naloxone Training Manual
- Naloxone Program Training Guide
- How to Protect Yourself When Using Opioids
- Reducing Harms: Recognizing and Responding to Opioid Overdoses in Your Organization
Promoting Naloxone
Community partners play a key role in raising awareness of overdose prevention and naloxone availability. Signs are available for community partners to print and promote availability of naloxone. If your organization offers naloxone, you can help make people aware by using these promotional resources.
Overdose Prevention Line
If you must use drugs alone, use an overdose prevention service such as the National Overdose Prevention Services 1-888-688-NORS(6677) or Grenfell Ministries – Overdose Prevention Line
NORS also provides information about several other crisis lines at www.nors.ca