Harm Reduction Supplies and Supports | Lakelands Public Health

Need Harm Reduction Supplies?

While our offices are closed during the holiday season, you can still access harm reduction supplies through the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN).

For more information on our holiday hours please visit our Contact Us page.

📞 Call or text: 705‑559‑0656

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Lakelands Public Health is committed to promoting awareness around harm reduction supplies to enable individuals to make informed decisions that prioritize their well-being and the safety of those around them.

Harm Reduction Supplies

Lakelands Public Health provides access to harm reduction supplies and services that can help prevent the spread of infections and diseases. Availability of services and supplies varies by office location.

What are Harm Reduction Supplies?

Harm reduction supplies are tools designed to minimize the negative effects associated with substance use. These supplies are provided to support safer practices and reduce the risks of infections, drug poisonings, and other harms. Common harm reduction supplies include:

New equipment – personal disposal bins, needles, pipes, spoons, ties, filters, swabs, water, and Vitamin C.
Drug Testing Kits for Benzodiazepines, Fentanyl and Xylazine.
Testing information on HIV, Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).
Information on safer sex, pregnancy, free condoms, lube and dental dams.

For more information about the specific harm reductions supplies available from Lakelands Public Health, check out the Kits information in the drop down menus below. Also please note that Lakelands Public Health provides free sexual health clinics and appointments can be booked online.

Where can I get Harm Reduction Supplies?

You can pick-up harm reduction supplies such as: needle kits, inhalation kits and crystal meth kits at the Lakelands Public Health office in Haliburton, Lindsay and Port Hope, or from community based organizations sites. Harm Reduction supplies (other than naloxone) are not currently available at our Peterborough office. Locations where you can find harm reduction supplies are called Needle Exchange Sites.

Lakelands Public Health Office locations to pick up supplies:
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on statutory holidays.

Port Hope | 200 Rose Glen Road, Port Hope
Lindsay | 108 Angeline Street South, Lindsay
Haliburton | 191 Highland Street, Unit 301, Haliburton
Closed to the public daily from 10-10:15 a.m., 1-2 p.m. and 3-3:15 p.m.

What is in a Crystal Meth Kit?

Crystal Meth Kit Contents:

1 Bowl pipe
4 Alcohol swabs
4 x 2 inch mouth pieces

What is in a Drug Test Kit?

Lakelands Public Health offers 3 types of drug testing kits.

Benzodiazepine Drug Test Kits are available through outreach to help you understand what is in your drug supply.
Fentanyl Drug Test Kits are available through outreach to help you understand what is in your drug supply.
Xylazine Drug Test Kits are available through outreach to help you understand what is in your drug supply.

What is in an Inhalation Kit?

Inhalation Kit Contents:

2 Glass stems
5 Brass screens
2 Push sticks
4 Alcohol swabs
4 x 2 inch Mouth pieces

What is in a Needle Kit?

Short Needle Kit Contents:

1 Package of 30g syringes
2 Tourniquets
10 Sterile water
2 Filters
10 Cookers
20 Alcohol Swabs

Long Needle Kit Contents:

1 Package of 29g syringes
2 Tourniquets
10 Sterile water
2 Filters
10 Cookers
20 Alcohol Swabs

What is in a Wound Care Kit and Where to Get One?

Wound Care Kit Contents

5 Standard Band-Aids
5 (2"x4") Band-Aids
4 Gauze Pads (2"x2")
4 Gauze Pads (4"x4")
1 Roll of Medical Tape
3 Sterile Water Tubes (9 ml)
4 Castile Soap Towelettes
4 Latex Free Gloves
1 Care of Abscess Wound Guide

Please contact your local Needle Syringe Program site to check if they carry these. Please note, the contents of the wound care kit may vary by location.

What to do with Unused Medication - Peterborough County and City

Do you have unused medications in your home? Medication Take-Back Peterborough is part of a provincial program that allows an individual to return unused medication to any pharmacy for free. You can bring back:

All prescriptions
Vitamins and other natural health products
Antibacterial and anti-fungal creams
Over-the-counter pills or liquids

Taking back unused medications helps keep you and your family safe! It can prevent the misuse of medication, or accidentally taking expired medications that don’t work anymore. When improperly disposed of, medications can impact the environment. By bringing any unused medications back, pharmacies can ensure that they are disposed of properly. Visit Peterborough Drug Strategy’s webpage for more information.

To support pharmacies in promoting and providing this service, Lakelands Public Health has resources (e.g., posted, flyers, etc.) that can be provided for free. The Health Unit also has a display banner that can be loaned to pharmacies to promote the program. Call Lakelands Public Health at 1-844-575-4567 for more information.

Submit Drug Poisoning Information

Anonymously share information about drug poisonings/overdoses in your community.

Kawartha Lakes Peterborough Haliburton Northumberland

Harm Reduction Supports

Lakelands Public Health and community partners offer essential harm reduction supports ready to provide assistance with substance use.

Needle Syringe Program

The Needle Syringe Program (NSP) helps reduce the harms associated with substance use. Needle syringe sites and disposal bins provide safe and anonymous access to sterile injection and inhalation equipment, and safe disposal for used equipment.

What to do if you Find a Needle

Call mobile outreach at PARN, 705-559-0656, for information about safe needle clean-up or to arrange needle pick-up and disposal. Personal needle disposal bins are also available for pick-up at Lakelands Public Health's Haliburton, Lindsay, and Port Hope offices and at other Needle Exchange Sites.

If you are looking at getting a Needle Disposal Bin installed at your location, please call the Harm Reduction department at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5401

Where to Discard Used Harm Reduction Supplies

When looking to safely dispose of needles, bowls, pipes, and stems, we ask that you use a Needle Disposal Bin. The Bins help reduce accidental contact with used needles and other harm reduction supplies. Personal Needle Disposal Bins can be carried with you or stored at a personal location to dispose of used needles and are available for pick up at Lakelands Public Health's Haliburton, Lindsay, or Port Hope offices and at Needle Syringe sites.

Community Needle Disposal Bins are large disposal units at fixed locations and can be used to dispose of used equipment, or used to dispose of personal disposal bins that are full and are available 24 hours a day.

If you are looking at getting a Needle Disposal Bin installed at your location, please call the Harm Reduction department at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5401

Local Outreach

Outreach providers deliver harm reduction materials, safe supplies and provide access to needle disposal to people who use drugs.

County of Haliburton

John Howard Society
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm (closed from 12-1)

Cat Meenan, Harm Reduction and Crisis Counsellor/Facilitator
Call or text: 705-340-8486
Email: cmeenan@jhscklh.on.ca

City of Kawartha Lakes

PARN
Hours: Monday to Friday
Call or Text: 705-559-0656

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John Howard Society
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

Natasha James, Harm Reduction & Crisis Coordinator
Call or text: 705-340-0228
Email: njames@jhscklh.on.ca

Northumberland County

PARN
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday
Call or Text: 705-559-0656

Peterborough County and City

Click here for a printable copy of the resources below

Health Care & Service Navigation

Connex Ontario | 1-866-531-2600
Mental health, addiction, and gambling services

211 Ontario | Call/Text 2-1-1
Connect with social services & community supports

Health811 | 8-1-1
Resources and confidential advice from a registered nurse

Peterborough Family Health Team Clinic | 705-651-4866
Clinic for residents without a family doctor
Appointment required

General Substance Use

Consumption and Treatment Services Site (CTS)
Safe space to consume drugs, education, and referrals
220 Simcoe St. Open 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., 7 days/week

Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) | 1-800-461-1909
1:1 or group counselling, substance use during pregnancy &
parenting, gambling support

CMHA HKPR | 705-748-6711
Crisis intervention, assessment, counselling, and referrals

Narcotics Anonymous - Central Lake Ontario | 1-888-811-3887

Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough | 705-749-6809
Peer support, virtual programs on relationships & emotions

Treatment Services

Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic (RAAM)
Counselling, addiction medication, prescription therapies
432 George St. N. (M/W/F 8:00 a.m-11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.-
3 p.m.) | 705-749-9708

New Dawn Medical Clinic I 647-625-8799 or 1-833-456-3296
Treat substance use, alcohol, nicotine, & chronic pain

Methadone Clinics
OATC Peterborough | 705-748-0995
Above & Beyond | 705-874-7948

Right to Heal Peterborough | 705-874-3048
Individualized outpatient interventions and safer supply
program

HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) | 705-749-9110
Testing, treatment, and counselling for HIV/AIDS and Hep C;
peer support, education, and workshops

Lakelands Public Health (Peterborough Office) | 1-844-575-4567
Testing, referrals to treatment, and counselling for HIV/AIDS

HIV Self-Testing
Get a Kit by PARN
I’m Ready Program
Our Healthbox - located at Trinity Community Centre

Alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous - Peterborough | 705-745-6111
Email district86aa@gmail.com

Smoking and Tobacco

Talk Tobacco | 1-833-998-8255 | Text CHANGE to 123456
Support for First Nations, Métis, & Indigenous individuals

Smokers’ Helpline | 1-877-513-5333

STOP on the Net by CAMH
Online program with 4 weeks of nicotine patches & gum

Naloxone & Harm Reduction Supplies

General Outreach

Connex Ontario
Mental health, addiction, and gambling services
www.connexontario.ca or 1-866-531-531-2600

211 Ontario
Helpline to connect with social services and community supports
www.211ontario.ca or 2-1-1 (phone or text)

Health811
Resources and confidential advice from a registered nurse
www.healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca or 8-1-1

Consumption & Treatment Services Site
Safe space to consume pre-obtained drugs, access education and referrals
Visit 220 Simcoe St., open 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., 7 days/week

Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast)
One-on-one or group counselling, substance use during pregnancy & parenting, gambling support
www.fourcast.ca or 1-800-461-1901

Four County Crisis (CMHA)
Crisis intervention, assessment, counselling, and referrals
www.cmhahkpr.ca or 705-745-6484

Narcotics Anonymous - Central Lake Ontario
www.cloana.org or 1-888-811-3887

Wellness Together Canada
Online resources, tools, phone counselling
www.wellnesstogether.ca or text WELLNESS to 741741

Sign up for Community Alerts

Subscribe to receive drug poisoning alerts via email. Alerts are reserved for life-saving information only.

City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland Peterborough County and City

Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinics

Provide quick access to care for addiction issues, including assessments, counselling and prescriptions for medications that may help with lessening cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Clinics will also help patients to navigate access to other addiction services in the community and provide support through transitions.

Haliburton Highland Mental Health Services 705-286-4575

6 McPherson St., Minden ON
Enter through Lifelabs entrance off McKay St. to access the program

Northumberland Hills Hospital 905-377-9891

1011 Elgin St. West, Suite 200 (2^nd floor), Cobourg ON

Peterborough Regional Health Centre 705-749-9708

432 George St. North, Peterborough ON
co-located with the new George Street Pharmacy, operated by the Burnham Pharmacy team.

Ross Memorial Hospital 705-328-6064

10 Angeline St. North, Lindsay ON

Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS)

Consumption and Treatment Services sites (CTSs) are health services that provide a safe, clean space for people to consume pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of health professionals. CTS sites also provide safer injection and smoking supplies, education, and connections to other services and supports.

Peterborough’s CTS is located at 220 Simcoe Street. It is open 7 days/week, 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn more and take a virtual tour of the site here.

Lakelands Public Health is responsible for conducting annual inspections and investigating complaints from the public about the CTS. Public Health Inspectors will investigate all relevant complaints submitted by the community within 24-hours. Such complaints include:

Needles, syringes, or other harm reduction supplies found within a 15-metre perimeter of the building
Infection prevention and control practices within the CTS

Complaints that are not covered by the Ontario Public Health Standards and LPH’s mandate will not be responded to. Any general complaints should be directed to Fourcast who operates the CTS. Investigations of previous complaints can be viewed here.

Consumption and Treatment Services Enforcement

Submit a complaint