Needle Exchange, Naloxone and Opioids | Huron Perth Public Health

Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) provides new, sterile equipment to promote safer injection and inhalation of drugs. Nurses are available to speak with clients in an open, non-judgmental way.

Needle exchange programs help prevent transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections, and they reduce the number of used needles discarded in the community.

Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach that aims to reduce the health and social harms associated with addiction and substance use.

Needle exchange supplies and locations

Supplies

The following supplies are available through the Needle Exchange Program free of charge:

needles and syringes
cookers, filters, meth pipes and crack kits
alcohol swabs and tourniquets
vitamin C and sterile water
sharps containers
naloxone kits

Drop in to one of the needle exchange locations to pick up safe drug supplies. You do not need an appointment. You can get supplies for yourself, a family member, friend, or anyone that you know that may be in need.

HPPH also offers sexual health clinics where you can access sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) testing and treatment.

Needle exchange locations | Huron County

Needle exchange locations in Huron County
Location	Address	Day(s) and time
CMHA Goderich	29 Kingston St.	Office hours may vary; call 1-888-261-9350
Royal Oaks RX Pharmacy, Wingham	131 John St.	Monday and Friday, 8:30AM-5:30PM

Needle exchange locations | Perth County

Needle exchange locations in Perth County
Location	Address	Day(s) and time
HPPH \| Festival Square site	10 Downie St., Stratford, 2nd Floor	Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM (sometimes closed 12-1PM depending on staff availability)
HPPH \| Listowel site	161 Inkerman St. W., Listowel	Call or text 519-635-2504 to order supplies. Pick up Fridays, 9AM-2PM
HPPH \| West Gore site	653 West Gore St., Stratford	Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM (naloxone kits not available at this location)
I.D.A. Listowel Care Pharmacy	975 Wallace Ave. N., Listowel	Monday-Saturday, 9AM-6PM
It Takes a Village	148 Main St. W., Listowel	Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-2PM Thursdays, 2-6PM
Pharmasave Listowel	130 Argyle Ave. N., Listowel	Ask at pharmacy counter Monday-Friday, 9:30AM-6:30PM Saturdays, 10AM-2PM

Disposing of needles

To dispose of needles, contact your local pharmacy or use one of the Community Sharps Disposal Kiosks listed below.

You can dispose of needle syringes individually or in hard plastic containers, such as:

biohazard containers
bleach bottles
containers under 4.5L in size

Community Sharps Disposal Kiosks | Huron County

Community sharps disposal kiosks in Huron County
Location	Address
Alice Munro Public Library, Wingham	281 Edward St., Wingham
HPPH \| Clinton site	77722B London Rd., Clinton
Mid-Huron Recycling Centre, Clinton	37506A Huron Rd., Clinton Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8AM-1PM (except statutory holidays)
South Huron Municipal Office, Exeter	322 Main St., Exeter

Community Sharps Disposal Kiosks | Perth County

Community sharps disposal kiosks in Perth County
Location	Address
Erie Street parking lot, downtown Stratford	91 Erie St., Stratford, behind the Festival Square building
HPPH West Gore site parking lot, Stratford	653 West Gore St., Stratford, back of the lower parking lot
Huron Perth Centre, Listowel	570 Main St. W., Listowel, behind building
Perth East Recreation Centre (PERC), Milverton	40 Temperance St., Milverton, north side of Gies Pavillion (south of the PERC building)
The Local Community Food Centre, Stratford	612 Erie St., Stratford
Town Hall, St. Marys	175 Queen St. E., St. Marys, east side of building
West End Pharmacy, Stratford	426 Huron St., Stratford, side of the building
Parking lot beside former West Perth Municipal Building	Across the street from 170 St. David St., Mitchell

Found used needles in the community?

Learn how to safely deal with found sharps and needles.

Opioids

Opioids, such as oxycodone, morphine, heroin and fentanyl are drugs that can be used to treat pain. Some people use them to get high. Opioids come in prescription and street forms. Street opioids like fentanyl, carfentanil, and newer synthetic opioids vary in their strength and quality. They may contain other substances or be added to another drug.

HPPH monitors activity in Huron Perth such as:

Overdose calls
Emergency room visits
Reports from healthcare professionals and support workers

This helps us track any increases in overdose deaths or near deaths so that we can alert our partners and the community.

To learn more about opioid-related overdoses and deaths occurring locally and throughout Ontario, check out Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Opioid Tool.

Naloxone

Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and allow time for medical help to arrive. HPPH offers free naloxone kits and training to people who use drugs. Kits are also available to family members, friends and other people able to help someone who may be at risk of an opioid overdose.

What to do during an overdose

Learn how to recognize an opioid overdose. If you see someone experiencing an overdose, you should call 9-1-1 immediately and give them naloxone.

Find out where you can get free naloxone kits in Ontario by using the online locator map. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for individuals who seek emergency help during an overdose.

Naloxone in the workplace

Since June 1, 2023, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires that naloxone be available in some workplaces in case a worker has an opioid overdose.

Find out more about naloxone in the workplace and if you are required to have a naloxone kit at your workplace.

Helpful resources

Addiction services and support
Huron Perth Helpline and Crisis Response Team | 1-888-829-7484
Naloxone in the workplace | Ministry of Labour
National Overdose Response Service (NORS) | 1-888-688-6677
Opioids | Health Canada
Opioids and painkillers | Ministry of Health
Recognize and temporarily reverse an opioid overdose | Ministry of Health