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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

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.

AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres

Pharmasave Marshall Park Pharmacy

Alliance Centre - Sturgeon Falls

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres - Parry Sound

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

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Parry Sound

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

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Sundridge

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.