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Harm reduction includes programs and policies aiming to reduce the potential health, social, and economic effects of drug use. This can include, but does not require, the stopping of drug use.
Harm reduction services benefit people who use drugs, their families, and the community. The Ministry of Health requires that public health units provide harm reduction strategies to protect the health and well-being of the population and to reduce health inequities as stated in the Ontario Public Health Standards. Harm Reduction services also help prevent the spread of blood borne diseases including Hep C and HIV/AIDS.
Public Health Harm Reduction programs include:
The Brantford-Brant Community Drugs Strategy (BBCDS) is a multi-stakeholder community initiative made up of a partnership including public health agencies and municipal organizations including the Brant County Health Unit, St. Leonard’s Community Services, The Aids Network, Brantford Police Services, Grand River Community Health Centre, Brantford Substance Users Network, Brant Community Healthcare System, City of Brantford, County of Brant, and Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services.
For more information, visit the City of Brantford’s website.
Naloxone is an easy-to-use, fast-acting drug used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
Naloxone can restore breathing within two to five minutes. When you take an opioid, it affects certain receptors in your brain. Naloxone works by kicking opioids off the receptors in your brain and binding to those receptors instead. This reverses or blocks the effects of opioids on your body.
Naloxone only works if you have opioids in your system, such as:
Free naloxone kits are available to all residents. For more information about where to pick up a naloxone kit, visit the Government of Ontario’s website.
If you suspect someone is having an overdose, follow these steps:
If using the spray: Lay the person on their back. Support their neck and tilt their head back. Peel back the package and remove the device. Place the tip of the nozzle in one nostril. Press the plunger firmly to release naloxone into the person’s nose.
If using the injection: Tap the ampoule (the vial containing the medicine) to send all the liquid to the bottom. Snap open the ampoule by breaking off the top. Using the syringe and needle included in the kit, pull the plunger to draw up the liquid. Inject it into muscle in the upper arm or upper thigh. Press the plunger all the way down.
The Brant County Health Unit offers free naloxone training for workplaces in our community. This training is designed to help you and your staff feel knowledgeable and confident in responding to an opioid poisoning emergency, including how to administer nasal naloxone.
You will learn:
This free training will cover the five steps to responding to an opioid overdose, what to do after an overdose , and how to access Naloxone kits.
The course also explores overdose prevention and ways to reduce the influence of stigma around opioid poisoning.
To book a training please contact Brenda.Shielll@bchu.org.
A harm reduction supply site is a place where people can exchange needles and syringes as well as other equipment for safer drug use. Harm reduction supplies are provided so equipment is not shared, to reduce infections, like HIV or Hepatitis C.
Harm reduction supply sites also offer safe disposal of used equipment, as well as education and individual counselling. Call each location for their hours of service.
There is no cost.
Below are sites where residents can access harm reduction services:
| Who can access these supplies? | What’s available? | Where can they be picked up? | When can they be picked up? | Other info | |
| St. Leonard’s – Elgin | Anyone | Supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; nasal naloxone; sharps containers; condoms. Large sharps disposal box outside building. | 133 Elgin St.
Call 519-759-8830 if you have questions. |
Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. | No limits on quantity of supplies |
| St. Leonard’s – Fairview | Anyone | Supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; nasal naloxone; sharps containers; condoms. Large sharps disposal box outside building. | 225 Fairview Dr.
Call 519-754-0253 if you have questions. |
Mon. – Wed. 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thurs.- Fri. 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. |
No limits on quantity of supplies |
| Rosewood House | Anyone (residents and non-residents) | Supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; nasal & injectable naloxone | 42 Nelson St.
Call 519-750-1547 if you have questions. |
Every day 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | No limits on quantity of supplies unless they are running low |
| Brant County Health Unit | Anyone | Nasal & injectable naloxone; supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; condoms. Large sharps disposal box located outside the front entrance. | .194 Terrance Hill Street. Call 519-753-4937 ext. 460 or email HREP@bchu.org if you have questions. | Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30 | When you enter the Health Unit, ask the receptionist in the waiting area about getting supplies. In general, no limits on the number of supplies, although there may at times be limits if stock is low. Clients may be offered a consultation with a clinical staff person who can provide additional harm reduction information, referrals and/or supplies to supplement standard kits. Consultation is not required to access supplies. |
| Grand River Clinic | Anyone | Supplies for injection, smoking and snorting; nasal and injectable naloxone; sharps containers; safe sex supplies. | 363 Colborne St.
Call 519-754-0777 or email grandriverclinic@outlook.com with questions. |
Mon – Fri 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fri 9 – 1 p.m. |
Accepts used sharps for disposal. |
| Brantford General Hospital | **Only those registered or admitted at the hospital can access supplies. | Nasal naloxone; supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; sharps bins | 200 Terrace Hill St. | Any time (24/7) for registered/admitted patients. | If you need harm reduction supplies, ask hospital staff on your unit or in the emergency department. No limits on quantity of supplies. |
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Who can access these supplies? |
What’s available? | Where can they be picked up? | When can they be picked up? |
Other info |
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| The Van (The AIDS Network) | Anyone | Supplies for injection, smoking & snorting; naloxone (both nasal and injectable); sharps containers; safer sex supplies; used sharps disposal | Mobile. Drop-off can be arranged in County of Brant, Brantford, Six Nations, Haldimand and Norfolk. Call or text 289-440-4912 to schedule a delivery in Brantford or Brant. Call or text 289-440-4903 for Haldimand, Norfolk and Six Nations. | Brant/Brantford Mon, Tues, Fri 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Haldimand/Norfolk Weds & Thurs 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Six Nations Mon. – Fri. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
No limits on quantity of supplies |
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Who can access these supplies? | What’s available? | Where can they be picked up? | When can they be picked up? |
Other info |
| The Salvation Army Housing Resource Centre | Anyone | Nasal naloxone | 255 Colborne St. Unit #2
Call 226-227-7692 if you have questions. |
Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | No limit on the amount of naloxone. |
| The Salvation Army Booth Centre | Anyone (You DO NOT have to be a resident to access naloxone) | Nasal naloxone. Large sharps disposal box outside building. | 187 Dalhousie St. Buzz the main door and ask for a kit.
Call 1-519-753-4193 ext. 111 with questions. |
24/7. You may need to wait if it is a busy time for staff. | Maximum 1-2 kits per person. |
NOTE: Naloxone can also be accessed for free at many pharmacies. Call ahead to make sure a pharmacy has kits in stock.
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Who can access these supplies? |
What’s available? | Where can they be picked up? | When can they be picked up? |
Other info |
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| The Crisis Hub | Anyone | Nasal & injectable naloxone (ask if you want injectable); syringe pick-up kits, condoms | 1546 Chiefswood Rd, Six Nations 226-446-9902 | Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. | |
| Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions | Anyone | Nasal & injectable naloxone (ask if you want injectable); syringe pick-up kits, condoms | 1769 Chiefswood Rd, Six Nations 519-445-2143 | Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. |
NOTE: Naloxone can also be accessed for free at many pharmacies. Call ahead to make sure a pharmacy has kits in stock.
St. Leonard’s – Withdrawal Management & Treatment Services
Offers a safe, supportive environment for withdrawal from substances as well as gender-based residential treatment programs.
St. Leonard’s – Concurrent Disorders Outpatient
Addiction assessment and counselling services.
Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic – Brantford
Providing mental health and addictions care through teamwork, technology and integration.
Free, confidential professional help and resources for drug and alcohol addiction in Canada. Referrals for clients seeking support with substances.
Brant Erie Alcoholics Anonymous – Find a meeting
Find AA meetings in our local area.
Narcotics Anonymous – Find a meeting
Locate helplines and websites for local NA groups near you.
For information regarding access to safe injection and inhalation kits visit our “Where to get help” page.
Safe Injection Kits:
Safe injection kits are meant to provide basic harm reduction supplies to lower the risk of HIV and Hepatitis C by providing safer-injection supplies, and are intended for people who inject substance. A typical kit includes:
Safe Inhalation Kits:
Safe inhalation kits are intended to provide drug users with an alternative to injecting drugs or inhaling with makeshift pipes that can be made of materials like glass bottles, which can cause cuts, burns, blisters and other sores that can lead to the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C when shared.
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