Harm Reduction Supplies and Supports

Harm reduction supplies are tools to help lower the negative effects of substance use. They support safer practices and can reduce the chances of infections, drug poisonings/overdoses, 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 the Health Unit 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.

You can pickup harm reduction supplies at Lakelands Public Health offices in Haliburton, Lindsay and Port Hope,.  You can also get them from community based organizations sites. These offices offer needle kits, inhalation kits and crystal meth kits.

The Peterborough office only supplies naloxone.

Locations where you can find harm reduction supplies are called Needle Exchange Sites.

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.

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  10 Sterile Water Tubes (30 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.

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.

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.  

How to safely pick up a discarded needle:

1. Use tongs or puncture resistant gloves.
2. Hold the needle tip away from you.
3. Put the needle into a sharps container or plastic container with a lid.
4. Do not put the container in the garbage or recycling bin.

If you are looking at getting a Needle Disposal Bin installed at your location, please call the Harm Reduction department at 1-844-575-4567 ext. 5401

When looking to safely throw away  needles, bowls, pipes, and stems,  use a Needle Disposal Bin. These Bins help prevent accidental contact with used needles and other harm reduction supplies. 

Personal needle disposal bins can be carried with you or kept at a personal location to dispose of used needles. They  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. These bins 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 1-844-575-4567 ext. 5401

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
Virtual Safer Supervised Consumption
NORS or call/text 1-888-688-6677 

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