Safety & Harm Reduction · 21 of 25
Safer equipment and infection prevention
Sharing or reusing injection equipment can spread infections. Access to sterile supplies and healthcare is part of harm reduction.
Reduce exposure
- Use new sterile needles and syringes for each injection.
- Do not share drug preparation equipment, including water, filters, or cookers.
- Ask a local harm reduction service about supplies and safe disposal.
- Put used sharps into an appropriate sharps container.
Connect with healthcare
Services may offer HIV and hepatitis testing, vaccinations, wound care, naloxone, and treatment referrals. Ask which options are available locally. You can request care even if you are continuing to use.
Pay attention to wounds
Seek medical care for worsening pain, spreading redness, swelling, or drainage. Fever or feeling seriously unwell alongside a wound needs urgent assessment. Do not try to cut open or drain a wound yourself. If you find a discarded needle, keep others away and contact the local disposal service rather than picking it up with bare hands.
If you are helping someone
Help someone find a local service without judging their need for supplies or healthcare.
WARN (OTHERS)
After immediate care is covered, share dated advisories or observed concerns. Say what is confirmed and what is uncertain. Protect people’s privacy.
Emergency care comes first. Never share someone’s name, identifying photo or private health details.
Learn more
For everyone across Canada. General education; individual care needs medical advice. For a medical emergency, call 911, keep yourself safe, and follow the dispatcher’s directions.
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