Harm reduction
Harm reduction is an evidence-based practice that aims to keep people safe and minimize death, disease, and injury from behavior that involves risk, such as substance use and sexual activity.
Access resources to stay safe and minimize death, disease, and injury from behavior that involves risk such as substance use and sexual activity.
Harm reduction is an evidence-based practice that aims to keep people safe and minimize death, disease, and injury from behavior that involves risk, such as substance use and sexual activity.
Harm reduction programs provide supplies for safer injection, safer smoking and safer sex.
Learn more about harm reduction supplies.
We support needle distribution not needle exchange as an evidence-based strategy to improve health as directed by the Provincial Harm Reduction Strategies and Services program. Needle distribution is also supported by the BC Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and CATIE - Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information.
We believe all people should be treated with dignity and respect – this includes people who use substances and/or engage in high risk behaviour. Stigma makes people feel judged and alone, which can prevent them from accessing health services. Treating people with respect improves health outcomes and saves lives. For more information, view Interior Health's Abuse Free Policy (AH0100).
If you have a concern about the care/treatment you have received at an Interior Health location, please contact our Patient Care Quality Office.
Drug checking is now offered by a variety of harm reduction service providers across the region. Drug checking is offered by appointment as well as drop-ins at some locations. Call ahead to find out more about services in your community.
Visit our Overdose Prevention & Treatment page to learn about overdose prevention, treatment and who to contact if you’re in a crisis or experiencing/witnessing an overdose.
Needles are used by a wide range of community members, including people with medical conditions, and people who use substances. When needles are discarded improperly in a public place, it is often because people do not have easy access to safe disposal.
Community | Container Locations | Pick Up Service | Phone | Hours |
Kelowna | City of Kelowna Map (with sharps container locations) | City of Kelowna - non-emergency, public areas only | 250-469-8801 | |
Kamloops | Kamloops sharps container map | City of Kamloops Bylaw Services | 250-828-3409 | |
Overdose Prevention Team | 778-257-1292 | |||
Downtown CAP Team | 250-572-3009 | |||
North Shore CAP Team | 250-318-7664 | |||
Penticton | Penticton sharps container map | City of Penticton | 250-490-2400 | M-SA: 8am-430pm |
One Sky Crew | 250-488-1376 | M & F mornings (days and hours may change) | ||
SOWINS Mobile Outreach | 250-809-7054 | W, F, SA: 11am-5pm | ||
Vernon | City of Vernon Sharp Hotline | 250-550-7841 | M-F: 8am-4pm |
Note: You can also return sharps to all IH public health, mental health and substance use, and primary care sites for safe disposal.
If a discarded needle is found in a public place, your local health unit or municipality can advise on needle collection services in your community. Alternatively, you can take the following steps to safely dispose of the needle:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Getting poked by a needle can be concerning. However, it is important to remember that the risk of infection from an improperly discarded needle in the community is extremely low. In the event of a needle stick injury, the following steps should be taken:
Stories@IH
More than 9,000 British Columbians have died due to the toxic drug poisoning since 2016 – with 2021 being the worst year on record at 2,224 deaths…
Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital emergency department nurses: Jane Carlton, Tamara Roscoe, Teresa Myers, and Emily Larochelle
…
On April 14, 2016, the increasing number of opioid overdoses prompted the Province to declare a …
Like many people who use drugs, Faith turned to illicit opioids to take away pain and hurt. When she realized she wanted to stop using, Opioid…
Members of the Kamloops Integrated Treatment Team are providing a new model of flexible, discreet and person-centred substance use treatment.…