There has recently been much discussion about discarded needles in public places says a news release from the Health Unit. The public is concerned, and looking for information on how to properly dispose of used needles.
Though rare, if a sharp is found in the community, remember the following steps when discarding it:
- 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 object is. Do not recap, bend, break the needle or manipulate it by hand in any way.
- Place the object in the container. Use 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 hazardous waste depot on McFarland Street or the Health Unit for proper disposal.
In North Bay the needle exchange program – Northern Points Exchange – is located at the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (681 Commercial Street, Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm with extended hours to 6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (269 Main Street West, Monday- Friday 8 am – 4 pm).
The hazardous waste depot in North Bay is located at 112 Patton Street, however, if a sharp is located in North Bay and a member of the public does not feel comfortable picking it up, they can contact ACNBA who provides a sharps pick up service (the Look Sharp No Sharps program – 705-499-6827). Upon receiving a call, an ACNBA trained volunteer will be notified and will arrive on the scene as soon as they can to safely remove the syringe.
“If you’re using drugs, we ask that you please dispose of your used needles safely, and we encourage you to access the Needle Exchange Program at the Health Unit in the Parry Sound Mall,” says Cathy Menzies-Boule, Executive Director of Clinical Services at the Health Unit. “Programs such as the Needle Exchange Program benefit the community immensely as they prevent the transmission of infections such as Hepatitis C and HIV and help keep discarded syringes off the street.”
For more information on the Needle Exchange Program, please visit www.myhealthunit.ca
- Needle Exchange Program services include: the provision and collection of needles and other drug injection supplies, safer inhalation supplies, condoms, health information, referrals, and other harm reduction items.
- Needle exchange programs are grounded in harm reduction philosophy, and are proven to reduce adverse health, social and economic harms associated with injection drug use.
- The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is seeking new needle exchange sites across the region. We are looking for organizations or businesses that are accessible to clients, nonjudgemental, and willing to offer confidentiality and acceptance.
