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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: December 19, 2019
SHARPS BUY BACK COLLECTED 48,800 SHARPS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
NORTH BAY, ON - The Sharps Buy Back campaign, launched by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) in November was a success. Roughly, 38,000 sharps (e.g. needles or syringes) were returned to the Health Unit’s North Bay site and roughly, 10,800 sharps were returned to the Alliance Centre in West Nipissing during the month of November. Both, individuals who use illegal substances and individuals who use prescription drugs returned sharps to the Health Unit in November.
The Health Unit in partnership with the Alliance Centre launched Sharps Buy Back to collect and promote the safe handling of used sharps. The primary audience for Sharps Buy Back was individuals who use drugs. As such, the initiative also aimed to connect people with harm reduction and health services offered through the Health Unit and the Alliance Centre.
“It is important that we offer safe, judgement free options for sharps disposal and other harm reduction services,” said Katharine O’Connell, Community Health Promoter at the Health Unit.
While the incentive campaign only ran through November, the Health Unit along with other service providers such as the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area and the Alliance Centre (West Nipissing), provide sharps disposal and exchange services year round. Harm reduction programs are part of the Health Unit’s mandate with the goal of reducing the harm associated with using drugs. Needle exchange services are proven to reduce the spread of infection without increasing intravenous drug use.
In addition to the sharps exchange program, the Health Unit also offers naloxone kits, safer inhalation kits, safer meth kits and a variety of other health services like free dental care for eligible adults and children, free or low-cost birth control options, and Hepatitis C, HIV, and STI testing.
For more information, call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, or learn more at myhealthunit.ca.
Quick Facts
If a sharp is found in the community, follow these instructions to pick it up safely:
- Do not walk while holding the sharp object
- Bring a puncture-proof, hard-sided, leak-proof container with a lid, such as a pickle jar or bleach container, to the area where the sharp was found
- Do not recap, bend, break the needle or manipulate it by hand in any way
- Place the object in the container. Use disposable gloves or puncture-proof gloves and tongs, if available. If tongs are not available pick up the needle/sharp from the blunt end and secure the lid
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
- Label the container “hazardous waste” and bring to the Health Unit for proper disposal
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Media Inquiries
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: Communications@healthunit.ca
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