Our Harm Reduction program is located at 141 Lake Street in Pembroke.
You can call or text 613-602-6056 during Renfrew County and District Health Unit’s business hours before you arrive to pick up or return supplies, but walk-ins are also accepted. Business hours are 8am-4pm Mon-Fri.
Harm reduction services help to prevent the transmission of blood-borne infections (i.e. HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C) and reduce the health risks of drug use.
CATIE Resource Link: Harm Reduction Fundamentals: A toolkit for service providers
CATIE Harm Reduction Fundamentals Video Series Link: Harm Reduction Fundamentals Video Series
Where to get harm reduction supplies in Renfrew County and District
Click here to find the most recent opioid-related morbidity and mortality data including emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths: Interactive Opioid Tool
Please feel free to reach out to our email at harmreduction@rcdhu.com, for any questions pertaining to harm reduction.
Check out Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness plan for the mental health and addictions system.
Needle Syringe Program
The health unit and partner organizations provide sterile, single use injection equipment for injection drug users 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
Sharps containers for used supplies, which can be returned for safe disposal are also provided.
Individuals can access single use equipment for injection drug use, such as
- Needles
- Syringes
- Alcohol swabs
- Cookers
- Filters
- Tourniquets
- Acidifiers
Resource Link: Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program
CATIE Video Link: Steps to Safer Injecting
Naloxone
Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can temporarily stop or reverse an opioid overdose, is available for free without a prescription in Canada. Examples of opioids include oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl and codeine. If you think someone is having an opioid overdose call 9-1-1, then give naloxone right away.
*Because naloxone doesn’t stay in the body very long and a person can overdose again, it is very important to call 911 for all overdoses*
Naloxone kits are available at the following locations to individuals who are:
- at risk of an opioid overdose;
- a family member, friend or other person able to help someone at risk of an opioid overdose;
- a client of a needle exchange program, hepatitis C program or consumption and treatment service;
- being released form a correctional facility.
For up to two years, Ontario will provide free nasal spray naloxone kits to businesses at risk of opioid overdoses through the Workplace Naloxone Program and free training needed to equip staff with the tools to respond to an opioid overdose.
Starting June 1, 2023, employers must provide naloxone in the workplace if certain circumstances described in the Occupational Health and Safety Act apply. Please review the Ministry of Health’s information on naloxone in the workplace for more details.
Resource Link: 5 Steps to Respond to an Opioid Overdose
Resource Link: Naloxone Demonstration Video
Resource Link: Naloxone Training E-course by Ontario Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
Safer Inhalation Supplies
The health unit and partner organizations provide individuals in the community who smoke substances with free safer inhalation supplies 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
Individuals can access supplies such as:
- Bowl pipes
- Straight pipes
- Screens
- Mouth pieces
Resource Link: Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program
CATIE Video Link: Steps to Safer Smoking
CATIE Video Link: Steps to Safer Snorting
Report an Overdose
This information is being collected under the authority of the Personal Health and Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Information collected will be used to help identify if there is a tainted/toxic drug supply or an increase in overdoses so that the Renfrew County and District Health Unit and its partners can respond and reduce drug related harms or deaths. If you have any questions, please email harmreduction@rcdhu.com.
Please do not use names or include any information that could identify you or others in your answers.
Health Canada Poster: What to do in the case of an opioid overdose
Needle Safety and Disposal
If you find a needle in a public place, you can call your municipality to find out about collection options.
How to dispose of discarded needles safely:
- Treat all needles and paraphernalia as contaminated.
- Find a sharps container or a thick plastic container with a secure lid. Do not use a thin plastic container that a needle could pierce. Do not use a glass container because it could break.
- You can contact your local pharmacy to see if they offer free sharps container and disposal. Sharps container are available at the Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
- Remove the lid and place the container on a stable surface next to the needle.
- Wear gloves (i.e. latex, rubber or leather gardening gloves). Gloves are meant to protect against fluid contamination, not punctures or cuts.
- Do not re-cap the needle
- Use tongs, pliers or tweezers to pick up the needle. Be sure to clean and disinfect the pickup instrument afterwards.
- Pick up the needle by the plastic end (syringe).
- Point the needle tip away from your body. Be very careful not to poke yourself with the needle.
- Do not hold the container in your hand while placing the needle inside.
- Place the needle point down into the container. Do not force the needle into the container.
- Tightly seal the container.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after removal of gloves.
- Find the nearest needle disposal location. Do not put items in the garbage or recycling bin.
- Arnprior – Shoppers Drug Mart, 55 Elgin Street West
- Pembroke – Douglas Street Bin between Lea Street and Cecil Street
- Pembroke – Waterfront Park outside of 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 someone has been poked or scratched by a needle, seek immediate medical attention.
Talking to Children About Needles
Teach children what to do if they find a needle or sharp object in the community before they find one. Talking to your child about needles may be a great opportunity to give your child valuable information for their safety and give them some understanding about an issue people may face in the community around them.
Remind children that there are many things on the ground that can harm them, and teach them not to touch anything that they find on the ground that does not belong to them. Let children know that people who have left a needle behind likely did not leave it there to hurt anyone. It is important to discuss that sometimes things are dropped by accident, and sometimes people do not know where to put them. If they find a needle, tell them not touch it and to tell an adult you trust about the needle.
Important: If you have picked up 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
Overcoming Stigma: Changing how you talk about drug use
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: