YOUR HEALTHHarm Reduction
Harm Reduction Services
Reducing Harm from Substance Use
Harm reduction means using policies and practices to make dangerous or risky activities safer. It helps protect people’s health and well-being. We have programs that lower the harms from things like using alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substances. These programs help people who use substances, their families, and the whole community.
Some people think harm reduction encourages substance use, but that’s not true. Instead, harm reduction programs give people the tools needed to reduce risks if they engage in risky behaviours. It doesn’t make people use substances more.
What Does Harm Reduction Look Like?
Harm reduction doesn't only apply to illegal substances. It’s part of everyday life! Some examples include:
- Wearing a helmet when biking
- Wearing a seatbelt in the car
- Wearing sunscreen when spending time outside
- Using nicotine patches to stop smoking
- Drinking water and eating food while drinking alcohol
- Understanding how to use naloxone
- Using sterile needles if injecting substances
Needle Syringe Program
What are Needle Syringe Programs?
Needle Syringe Programs (NSP) are a harm reduction service that gives free supplies to help people use substances more safely. Using clean equipment helps stop the spread of infections.
Needle Syringe Programs Provide:
- Clean needles and syringes
- Alcohol swabs, filters, sterile water
- Ties to help with injections (tourniquets)
- Vitamin C (acidifiers)
- Cookers for preparing substances
- Sharps containers for safe disposal
- Safe needle drop-off spots
- Condoms and lube
- Information on safer substance use and safe sex
Harm reduction programs can:
- Stop the spread of infections like HIV and hepatitis
- Reduces skin infections
- Help people avoid sharing needles and other substance-use equipment
- Help people safely throw away used needles
- Connect people to healthcare and support services
