Harm Reduction Services

The City of Ottawa's Site Needle and Syringe Program is an effective mandatory health program, which has been in operation since 1991. The availability of these programs have been deemed a necessary public health measure to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, primarily HIV and Hepatitis-C virus, and to minimize the risks associated with substance use in society.

Program information and background

Mandate of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Background

In the late 1980's, the rate of HIV and Hepatitis B and C infection grew to epidemic proportions among injection drug users. The Ministry of Health acknowledged the urgent need to implement harm reduction strategies to control the epidemic. The human costs, as well as the financial burden HIV infection was placing on the health-care system, were a major concern.

The Ontario Ministry of Health, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act mandated that:

"The board of health shall ensure that injection drug users can have access to sterile injection equipment by the provision of needle and syringe exchange programs as a strategy to prevent transmission of[ HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections and other associated diseases in areas where drug use is recognized as a problem in the community. The strategy shall also include counselling and education and referral to primary health services and addiction/treatment services. The board of health shall produce an annual report of program activities and forward a copy to the Minister of Health

Program goals

To educate clients to reduce and avoid the risk of transmission of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne pathogens by:

• Increasing awareness of the risks involved in needle sharing, other drug using behaviours and unprotected sex. To enhance the skills needed to change high-risk behaviours and/or maintain low and no risk behaviours.
• Providing accurate information on all modes of HIV transmission (including sexual transmission), testing and prevention.

Providing health education, needle exchange, and condom distribution. To encourage self-esteem in substance users and other clients and an awareness of health issues by:

• Increasing awareness of health status regarding HIV and hepatitis B and C by offering testing.
• Encouraging and providing hepatitis A/B and influenza vaccination.
• Providing health education, anonymous HIV testing, confidential testing for hepatitis B and C, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, provision of hepatitis A/B vaccine, HIV and hepatitis C counselling and partner follow-up.

To provide a supportive environment for substance users and other clients to access medical and social services by:

• Gaining a client's trust to a point of access for meeting their service and health care needs.
• Referring substance users to treatment, counselling services, medical and other social service supports.
• Providing crisis counselling, referrals to community agencies and drug treatment programs.

Keeping Ottawa neighbourhoods safe is our collective responsibility. In an effort to promote community safety, Ottawa Public Health, along with numerous City and community partners, has implemented a variety of measures to provide safe options for disposing of drug paraphernalia and addressing items that have been improperly discarded.

• distribution of harm reduction supplies (injecting and inhalation supplies)
• distribution of condoms and lube
• health education/ promotion
• substance use counselling
• general counselling and support
• referral to health and social service agencies including drug treatment services
• naloxone take home kit training and distribution

Clinical services offered:

• confidential testing Hep B, Hep C
• anonymous and confidential HIV testing
• rapid point of care HIV test (for those who qualify)
• confidential testing for STBBIs; gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis
• Hep A and B vaccinations; Seasonal Influenza vaccine
• pregnancy testing
• emergency contraception (Plan B)

Are you at risk of opiate overdose?

Did you know?

• Anyone can overdose (first time and long time users, youth and older adults).
• Fentanyl is often made as a powder and mixed with other drugs. It is also being pressed into pills. It is around 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine. This makes the risk of accidental overdose much higher.
• There is an increased risk of overdose after a period of non-use (like being released from prison, hospital, or a treatment facility) or from a lack of access to drugs.

What can I do to reduce my overdose risks?

Here are some overdose prevention tips:

• Avoid using alone. Fix with a friend and leave the door unlocked.
• Avoid mixing drugs with prescription and over the counter drugs, alcohol, benzodiazepines, other opiates and/or uppers like cocaine or crack.
• Use one drug at a time if you are mixing and take a break between drugs.
• Inject, snort, or smoke a very small amount first to test its strength.
• Illicit fentanyl is much more toxic than other pharmaceutical opioids
• There is no easy way to know if fentanyl is in your drugs. You can't see it, smell it or taste it
• Fentanyl is being cut (mixed) into both opioid and non opioid drugs
• If you are feeling sick or under the weather, use less and be more careful.
• Use less when your tolerance is low (like when you haven't used in three or more days).
• Let your community agency know if you notice any changes with your drugs.
• An overdose is a medical emergency! If you or someone else is overdosing, do not hesitate to CALL 9-1-1.

What is naloxone?

For information on Naloxone and overdoses visit the StopOverdoseOttawa.ca web page

What is involved in naloxone take home kit training?

• Education about the drug Naloxone.
• Overdose risk and myth information.
• Overdose prevention training.
• Steps on how to respond to an overdose.

How do I get a naloxone take home kit?

Just walk-in the Site office or call the Site van to get a free kit, certification and training.

You can also visit the Province of Ontario's web page to find the nearest naloxone distribution partner near you.

Ottawa Public Health: Harm Reduction Services-locations and hours

Local Drug Checking Services  

View a map of harm reduction and needle drop box service locations and hours

Over the past few years, accessibility of needle exchange and other harm reduction services in Ottawa have been greatly increased through partnerships with other agencies serving the same clientele.

Both Site Program and partner agency staff are alert for, and take advantage of, opportunities to educate clients on the safe use of syringes/glass stems and other drug using equipment. 

• AIDS Committee of Ottawa 19 Main Street, 613-238-5014
• Carlington Community Health Centre 900 Merivale Road, 613-722-4000
• Centre 454 454 King Edward Avenue,613-235-4351
• Centre 507 507 Bank Street, 613-233-5626
• Centretown Community Health Centre 420 Cooper Street, 613-233-4697
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa 311-211 Bronson Avenue, 613-237-7427 
• Max Ottawa 400 Cooper Street, Suite 9004, 613-701-6555
• Minwaashin Lodge - STORM Van  424 Catherine Street 613-265-7558
• Montfort Renaissance 1900 St. Joseph Boulevard, 613-424-3400
• Ontario Addictions Treatment Centres
  • 401 Somerset Street W. 613-233-1114
  • 1318 Carling Avenue, 613-627-0856
  • 263 Montreal Road, 613-749-9666
• Operation Come Home 150 Gloucester Street, 613-230-4663
• OPH Site Needle and Syringe Program 179 Clarence Street, 613-234-4641 Site Van, 613-232-3232
• Onyx Community Service 311 McArthur Avenue, 613-745-8889

• Ottawa Inner City Health at Shepherds of Good Hope 256 King Edward Avenue, 613-562-7845

• Pinecrest-Queensway Health and Community Services 1365 Richmond Road, 2nd floor, 613-820-2001
• Sandy Hill Community Health Centre 221 Nelson Street, 613-569-3488
• Somerset West Community Health Centre 55 Eccles Street, 613-238-1220 NESI Mobile Van 613-761-0003
• South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre 1355 Bank Street, suite 600, 613-737-5115
• Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health 299 Montreal Road Vanier, 613-748-5999
• Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa 147 Besserer Street, 613-241-7788 ext 300

Pharmacy partners:

• Trust Care Pharmasave  1020 St Laurent Blvd. 613-749-8577
• Palmyra Guardian   1013 Merivale Rd.  613-729-7117
• Parkway Pharmacy  311 McArthur Ave.  613-749-2324
• Shoppers Drug Mart  1300 Stittsville Main Street  613-831-0901 – please speak to the pharmacist for supplies
• Centre Town Pharmacy  326 Bank Street  613-422-2900
• Whole Health Pharmacy Ogilvie  1150 Cadboro Rd. 613-749-7455
• Respect RX South 1800 Bank St, (613) 414-9555
• Respect RX Vanier 45 Montreal Rd, (613) 422-8181
• Respect RX West 14-2006 Robertson Rd, (613) 422-8181
• Swift Compounding Pharmacy 276 Bank St. 613-422-2202

• Safer Injecting and Safer Smoking Tips: This pocket-sized resource offers essential tips on how to inject and smoke drugs more safely, helping to prevent harms like vein damage and infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Designed to fit easily into harm reduction kits, it provides a quick reference on safer drug use practices, such as using new supplies and never sharing equipment.
• What You Need to Know About Wounds: This pocket-sized resource contains basic harm reduction information for people who use drugs about what to do if someone has a wound. It encourages people to talk about wounds with a healthcare provider or harm reduction worker and includes signs that indicate when to get medical care, as well as tips on how to take care of wounds.
• Mapping the Body: Choosing a Vein for Safer Injection: This resource is a pocket-sized and easy-to-understand wallet card about where is safer, less safe and dangerous to inject drugs on the body to help prevent harms such as infection.