ABOUT
Our Harm Reduction/Exchange Program provides supplies to mitigate substance use harms, offers education, and facilitates referrals to Mental Health, Addictions, and STBBI testing services. We distribute Narcan and offer hygiene incentives for returns. This is a shame-free approach designed to address addiction in our community, and keep members safe from the risk associated with substance abuse.
CONTACT US
HARM REDUCTION
Safe Drug Use Supplies
Syringe Access
- Distribute sterile syringes
- Safer drug use supplies
- Education to people who inject drugs.
Pipe Access
- Distribute pipes
- Safer drug use supplies
- Education to people who use crack or meth.
These programs have been proven to reduce HIV and Hepatitis C infection rates by about 50%.
Incentives
- Hygiene products given for sharps returns.
Narcan
Overdose deaths are preventable. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time. Naloxone is easy to use and small to carry. There are two forms of naloxone that anyone can use without medical training or authorization:
Recognizing the Signs of Overdose
Knowing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life.
Here are some things to look for:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling sleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weal, or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold and/ or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
What to do if you think
someone is overdosing
It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose – you could save a life.
- Call 911 Immediately.
- Administer naloxone, if available.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
- Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.
Finding a Needle
Finding a Needle
Follow the steps below for safe pick-up and disposal.
- Do not recap the needle.
- Wear garden, work or medical gloves.
- Use tweezers, pliers or tongs to pick up by the end that is not the sharp end. Keep away from your body.
- Place the needle, sharp end first, into a hard container that needles cannot poke through (e.g. liquid laundry detergent or bleach container).
- Fill a container no more than 3/4 full. If a container is too full, the needles may poke through the side.
- Put the container lid on tightly and tape it.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Store the container in a safe place away from children until you can dispose of it safely.
- Do not place needles in city garbage or recycling.
Place in a needle drop box in your community located at the Senior’s Hall, or Water Treatment Plant.
If you are not comfortable handling or disposing of a needle on public property, call:
Willow Cree Health Services
Call us for assistance disposing of a found needle
(306) 467-4402
Safe Sex Supplies
Willow Cree Health Services supplies free condoms, dental dams and lube available at the front waiting room, or in the harm reduction room.
