Back to SearchNORTH BAY, ON - The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is pleased to announce, in partnership with the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (ACNBA), that an additional community sharps bin has been installed in North Bay. When used sharps are discarded improperly, such as in recycling, garbage or even in a public place, it is often the result of not having a place to properly dispose of them. Providing a place for people to safely discard sharps helps keep the community safer for everyone.
The community sharps bin, located at ACNBA’s current office location (147 McIntyre St. W., Suite 102), is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is important that only loose sharps (e.g., needles) or sharps in a puncture-proof container be put into the bin. Garbage and other substance use equipment are to be disposed of in the garbage can located near the sharps bin.
“ACNBA is thrilled to have a new community sharps disposal bin installed outside of our agency. This bin will help increase awareness of how to discard of used syringes safely in the community, while providing additional opportunities for harm reduction education and support. This bin further works to reduce the stigma that is often associated with substance use and will help reduce the risk of needle stick injuries. It will also help to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C, helping to keep people safe and healthy,” said Caitlin Dobratz, Hepatitis C Community Coordinator at ACNBA.
“The reasons why individuals use substances are complex. An individual’s genetics, mental health, their social, physical, and economic conditions, as well as adverse childhood experiences and trauma are all factors that can contribute to use of substances,” explains Katharine O’Connell, Community Health Promoter. In addition to providing harm reduction services, the Health Unit is working with community partners to address the social determinants of health that impact substance use and to reduce barriers to accessing health services.
Harm reduction services, such as the distribution of safer substance use equipment and sharps drop off, will still be available in North Bay at the Health Unit, ACNBA, the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (OATC), and other locations throughout the community. Harm reduction services aim to build relationships with individuals in an effort to restore human dignity.
For more information, call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, or learn more at www.myhealthunit.ca/sharps.
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Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca
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