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NEP Overview
Peel Public Health's Needle Exchange Program (NEP):
- Offers new needles*, stems and other services to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases among people who use drugs, including steroids.
- Protects the public by reducing the number of used needles discarded in public places like playgrounds and washrooms.
- Follows a "Harm Reduction" philosophy.
Small amounts of blood often remain in used needles, mixing and/or rinsing water, and other drug equipment such as stems, spoons or filters. If you share needles and other drug equipment, you can get - or unknowingly spread - a blood-borne infection like HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
* The use of the term 'needles' refers to the whole injecting device: needle, syringe, plunger, barrel, etc.
The Harm Reduction Philosophy
Harm Reduction recognizes that a certain percentage of the population will use drugs and the goal is to reduce the harm that might result from drug use. Harm reduction aims to decrease the adverse health, social and economic consequences of substance abuse, for the user and the community, without requiring abstinence.
NEP Services
All of Peel's NEP services are free and confidential.
The Peel Works NEP:
- Distributes Naloxone (Narcan®) kits and provides overdose prevention and response training through mobile van
- Provides new needles and injection equipment.
- Provides containers for the safe disposal of used needles and equipment.
- Picks up and safely disposes of used needles in sharps containers from needle exchange clients.
- Provides safer inhalation kits (stems, screens, mouthpieces, & push sticks)
- Provides piercing kits which includes information about after care.
- Provides information about safer drug use.
- Provides information about safer sex as well as free condoms and lube.
- Offers referrals to:
- Peel's Healthy Sexuality clinics for:
- Community agencies for support and treatment.
NEP Mobile Unit
The hours of operation are 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday
To access needle exchange services and naloxone kits in Peel:
- Call or text the NEP cell phone at 647-225-1623
All services are free and confidential. No health card is needed.
Needle Exchange & Safer Inhalation Kit Fixed Site Locations
- Peel Public Health – Healthy Sexuality Clinics
For locations and hours of operation, visit: http://peelregion.ca/health/sexuality/clinics/
*Naloxone available
- Bloom Clinic
www.bloomclinic.ca
40 Finchgate Blvd., Suite 224
Brampton, ON
905-451-6959
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- John Howard Society of Peel–Halton–Dufferin
www.johnhowardphd.ca
1090 Dundas Street East
Mississauga, ON
905-275-9117
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- John Howard Society of Peel–Halton–Dufferin
www.johnhowardphd.ca
134 Main Street North
Brampton, ON
905-459-0111
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre
14 Nelson Street West, Units A & B
Brampton, ON
905-450-6679
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Moyo Health & Community Services
http://www.moyohcs.ca/
601-7700 Hurontario Street
Brampton, ON
905-361-0523
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Youth Substance Abuse Program (YSAP)
https://ymcagta.org/youth-programs/youth-substance-abuse-program
151 City Centre Drive, Suite 800
Mississauga
905-276-9322 x31216
*Naloxone available
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday Drop-In 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Disposal of Used Needles, Stems and Syringes
To reduce of the risk of injury, it is important to properly dispose of drug use equipment. Always place sharps in a biohazard bin or puncture proof container (e.g. bleach container, pop bottle).
Never:
- Flush needles and equipment down the toilet
- Throw needles and equipment into sewers or garbage cans
- Leave needles and equipment in a park, playground or other public area
In Peel, free biohazard bins and disposal of used needles, syringes and stems are provided through:
- The 24-hour needle drop boxes located at the Peel Public Health – Fairview, Meadowvale, and Brampton clinics.
The drop box is similar to a video return/mail slot, for the safe and anonymous disposal of used needles/syringes and drug use equipment, 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Clients do not need to use the clinic services to have access to the needle drop box. Signs on the outside of the buildings provide direction to the drop boxes.
- Visiting a fixed site.
- Visiting a Peel Community Recycling Centre (CRC). CRCs will only accept discarded sharps in a biohazard container. You can obtain biohazard bins from the CRC, any fixed site, or the by calling/texting the PWNEP: 647-225-1623.
- Pharmacies participating in the Ontario Sharps Collection Program. Visit the Health Products Stewardship Association – Ontario to find a participating site.
- If a needle is found on public property, calling the 3-1-1 Contact Centre (Service Caledon for Caledon residents 905-584-2272) will alert appropriate staff. The 311 Contact Centre of Service Caledon will forward this information to the appropriate City or Regional staff (based on location of the discarded sharp), so that it can be safely collected and disposed of.
Links
Harm Reduction
Opioids in Peel
We closely monitor trends in emergence department visits, paramedic calls, hospitalizations and deaths related to opioid use in Peel. Visit our Opioid Overdoses page to find out how we are using this information to develop an Opioid Strategy for Peel.
Methadone Treatment Centres
Safer Sex
Drug & Alcohol Helpline
Get Naloxone Kits for Free
