Harm Reduction

One of the goals of harm reduction is to decrease the risks and burdens of infections and diseases caused by sharing or reusing drug use equipment. Sharing or reusing drug use equipment ("works" or "gear") increases the risks of serious bacterial infections (i.e. skin or heart) and blood-borne infections (i.e. HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C). Needle Syringe Programs have been proven to reduce the spread of infection without increasing drug use.

Our Health Unit offices in North Bay and Parry Sound offer the following:

• Needles and other harm reduction items, including pipes, foil, straws and sharps containers
• Crystal meth, inhalation ("crack") and snorting kits
• Disposal of used needles and other biohazardous items (i.e. used glass pipes)
• Naloxone kits, Naloxone refills and injectable Naloxone
• Condoms and lubricant
• Health information and safer substance use education
• Referrals (within the Health Unit and to other community agencies)
  

All of the services are free and confidential.

To access the Needle Syringe Program services, look for this symbol:

Needle Syringe Program Locations

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

North Bay Office
345 Oak Street West
1-800-563-2808 or 705-474-1400 ext. 5289 or 5282

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.

In the North Bay office only, aside from walking in during business hours, you also have the choice to text or call in your order for supplies for pick-up on the same day. This option reduces the amount of time spent in our office and reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Here are some of the details:

• Call or text 705-471-5997, provide a first name, and list all of the supplies needed and how many of each. This option is available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. After 3:30 p.m. you can walk in to the office before closing hours.
• Wait one hour then pick up your supplies.

Further information on the option to pre-order supplies is available from the North Bay Health Unit’s Clinical Information (CI) office.

Parry Sound Office
70 Joseph Street
705-746-5801 ext. 3213
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area

269 Main Street West Suite 201 North Bay, ON
705-497-3560
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed between 12 to 1 p.m.) Temporarily closed at 3:30 p.m.

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres

456 Ferguson Street North Bay, ON
705-497-1620
Information line for new patients 1-877-937-2282
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Pharmasave Marshall Park Pharmacy

524 Lakeshore Drive, North Bay, ON
(705) 478-8079
Monday to Friday 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Alliance Centre - Sturgeon Falls

172 Ethel Street, Unit 3, Sturgeon Falls, ON
705-753-2271 ext. 721
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres - Parry Sound

32 James Street, Parry Sound, ON
705-774-9669
Information line for new patients 1-877-937-2282
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Parry Sound Health Centre - First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB)

74 James Street, Second Floor, Parry Sound, ON
705-746-5807
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - temporarily closed

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Parry Sound

60 James Street, Suite 201, Parry Sound, ON
1-866-829-7049 or 705-746-4264

Currently by appointment only. Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Sundridge

87 Main Street West, Sundridge, ON
705-384-5392

Currently by appointment only. Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Community Sharps Bin 

Learn more about the community sharps bin.