RCDHU and partner organizations can provide substance use supplies to clients at various locations throughout the county, including single use injection equipment and safer inhalation supplies.

See below for a list of available supplies and pick-up locations.

Single Use Injection Equipment:

The Needle Syringe Program provides sterile, single use injection equipment to help reduce the spread of infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

Individuals can access the following:

• Syringes
• Alcohol swabs
• Cookers
• Filters
• Tourniquets
• Acidifiers
• Sharps containers for used supplies

Sharps containers for used supplies can also be returned to RCDHU for safe disposal.

Safer Inhalation Supplies:

Free safer inhalation supplies are available to individuals in the community who smoke substances, including:

• Bowl pipes
• Straight pipes
• Screens
• Mouth pieces

Pick-Up Locations:

Supplies can be picked up at the following locations:

• Arnprior – Shoppers Drug Mart (55 Elgin Street West)
• Golden Lake – Pikwàkanagàn Health Services Centre (1643 Mishomis Inamo)
• Pembroke – Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (156 John Street)
• Pembroke – Renfrew County and District Health Unit (141 Lake Street)
• Renfrew – Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (627 Fortington Street)

For additional locations throughout Ontario, please visit: Ontario Harm Reduction Programs – Map.

Additional resources:

• Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program
• Steps to Safer Injecting (Video)

What Is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily stop or reverse the effects of an opioid-related medical emergency (overdose). It works quickly to restore breathing and can save a person’s life.

Naloxone is safe and easy to use.

Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of opioids, which include:

• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Hydromorphone
• Codeine

When to Use Naloxone:

If you think someone is having an opioid substance-use medical emergency:

1. Call 911 right away*
2. Give naloxone as soon as possible

*Naloxone only works for a short time. This means a person can go back into an overdose after it wears off. It is very important to call 911 for all substance use emergencies.

Signs of a medical emergency may include:

• Slow or stopped breathing
• Not waking up
• Blue or grey lips or nails

Learn How to Use Naloxone:

 For information on using a Naloxone kit, visit:

• How to use a Naloxone Kit
• Responding to an opioid overdose (Health Canada)

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Free Naloxone Kits

RCDHU and partner organizations can provide free naloxone kits to harm reduction clients.

Naloxone kits are also available to individuals who are:

• at risk of an opioid substance use medical emergency
• a family member, friend or other person able to help someone at risk of an opioid substance use medical emergency
• a client of a needle exchange program, hepatitis C program or consumption and treatment service
• being released form a correctional facility

For a complete list of locations that supply Naloxone, visit: Where to Get Naloxone in Renfrew County and District.

Naloxone in the Workplace

Employers may be required to provide naloxone in the workplace if certain circumstances apply, as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

For more information, please review the Ministry of Health’s webpage: Naloxone in the Workplace.

Please note that employers are responsible for purchasing and maintaining their own naloxone kits.

Helpful Resources:

• Naloxone Demonstration Video
• Naloxone Training E-course by Ontario Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Reporting information regarding a substance use medical emergency can help identify dangerous or contaminated drugs and prevent future harm.

All information you provide is confidential and anonymous. It is collected under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

Information will be used to:

• Help identify an increase in substance use medical emergencies
• Help identify if there is a tainted/toxic drug supply
• Support Renfrew County and District health Unit and its partners in responding quickly and reducing drug related harms or deaths

Please do not use names or include any information that could identify you or others in your answers.

If you have questions, please contact us at: harmreduction@rcdhu.com.

If you find a needle in a public place, contact your local municipality to learn about safe collection and disposal options.

How to Safely Dispose of a Needle:

Always treat discarded needles and drug equipment as contaminated.

What You Need:

• Find a sharps container* or a thick plastic container with a secure lid
  • Do NOT use thin plastic (needles can pierce through)
  • Do NOT use glass (it can break)
• Gloves (latex, rubber, or heavy-duty gloves like gardening gloves)
• Tongs, pliers, or tweezers

* You can ask your local pharmacy about free sharps containers and disposal. Sharps containers are also available at RCDHU.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Remove the lid and place your container on a stable surface next to the needle.

1. Put on gloves (like latex, rubber, or leather gardening gloves). Gloves are meant to protect against fluid contamination, not punctures or cuts.
2. Do not recap the needle
3. Use tongs, pliers or tweezers to pick up the needle. Pick up needle by the plastic end (syringe).
4. Point the needle tip away from your body. Be very careful not to poke yourself with the needle.
5. Do not hold the container in your hand while placing the needle inside.
6. Place the needle point down into the container. Do not force the needle into the container.
7. Tightly seal the container.
8. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after removal of gloves.
9.  Clean and disinfect the pickup instrument (tongs, pliers, tweezers) afterwards.

Where to Dispose of Needles:

Do not put needles in the garbage or recycling. Use designated disposal locations near you:

• Arnprior – Shoppers Drug Mart, 55 Elgin Street West
• Pembroke – Douglas Street Bin (between Lea Street and Cecil Street)
• Pembroke – Waterfront Park Bin (outside washroom)
• Pembroke – Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, 156 John Street
• Pembroke – Renfrew County and District Health Unit, 141 Lake Street
• Renfrew – Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, 627 Fortington Street

If You Are Injured by a Needle:

If you are poked or scratched by a needle, seek medical care right away.

Report Found Needles

If you have found used needles or other drug paraphernalia in your neighbourhood, please report these finds to Renfrew County and District Health Unit at harmreduction@rcdhu.com and indicate the following information:

• Your name and contact information
• What was found
• How many
• The exact or closest address to the pickup location

Talking to Children About Needles

It’s important to teach children what to do if they find a needle or sharp object in the community.

Key messages for children:

• Do not touch needles or anything sharp found on the ground
• Tell a trusted adult right away
• Be aware that many objects on the ground can be unsafe and never touch something on the ground that doesn’t belong to them
• People who have left a needle behind likely did not leave it there to hurt anyone. Sometimes things are dropped by accident and sometimes people do not know where to put them.

Substance use treatment options are available in Renfrew County and District.

The Renfrew County Addiction Treatment System delivers comprehensive, integrated alcohol, drug and gambling addiction assessment, counselling and treatment programs. Please visit:

• Renfrew County Addiction Treatment System
• Mesa Mobile Outreach Program – Mackay Manor

To learn more about stigma and how we can avoid creating barriers to care for members of our community, visit Health Canada’s Stigma: Why Words Matter.

About Stigma:

Stigma is negative attitudes, beliefs or behaviours about or towards a group of people because of their situation in life. It includes discrimination, prejudice, judgment and stereotypes, which can isolate people who use drugs.

People who use drugs, especially those struggling with addiction face discrimination and barriers to getting help.

Changing how you talk about drug use:

The language you use has a direct and deep impact on people around you. You can reduce stigma by changing the words you use to talk about drug use. Using kind words can make it easier for someone to speak up, to feel understood or to receive help.

• Use person-first language, for example say `person who uses drugs’ instead of `drug user.’
• Use neutral, medically accurate words when describing drug use.

Help end stigma. Take these important steps to help reduce stigma:

• Do not define any person by their drug use.
• Be respectful, compassionate and caring to those who use drugs.
• Educate your friends and family –pass on facts and challenge stereotypes.
• Remember that addiction is a treatable medical condition, not a choice, and is deserving of care just like any other medical condition.
• Be aware of your attitudes and behaviours because they may be influenced by stereotypes, negative stories and images about people who use drugs.

Overcoming Stigma: Online Learning

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is using Overcoming Stigma: Online Learning to address the stigma surrounding substance use. The online learning provides more information about:

• The Pain of Stigma
• Insights on Substance Use
• Stigma Ends with Me

Helpful resources for service providers:

• Harm Reduction Fundamentals: A toolkit for service providers
• Harm Reduction Fundamentals Video Series