Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Sites
Related topics: Harm reduction Mental health and substance use Mental health and substance use services in Vancouver Richmond mental health and substance use services Substance use
Need help immediately?
If there is a life-threatening safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433
BC Crisis Line: 604-310-6789
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717
Harm reduction: Toward the Heart
Harm reduction and needle distribution sites provide harm reduction supplies, including safer injection, safer smoking and safer sex supplies, along with harm reduction education and referrals to health services, addictions services and other social supports.
What to expect
We offer safe disposal of needles and other injection supplies. Harm reduction services are offered directly through Vancouver Coastal Health at many community health centres, through contracted agencies and in partnership with other community organizations.
The goals of this program are to prevent infections, including HIV and Hepatitis C, to provide harm reduction education and support, and to connect clients to programs and services to improve health and well-being.
Resources
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Overdose response, naloxone & training
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Substance use and harm reduction resources for health professionals and service providers
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Vancouver Needle Distribution and Recovery Van
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Harm reduction supplies
Harm reduction supplies are sterile supplies that reduce the risk of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C for people who use drugs by injecting or smoking. Harm reduction supplies save lives, reduce infections and give the message: “We care about you, and think your health matters."
Learn more about the purpose of each item on the Toward the Heart website.
Supplies are available for free throughout the region at all VCH needle exchanges. To find all of the sites where supplies are available, use the Towards the Heart site finder.
Needle Distribution and Needle Disposal
- Don’t touch the needle with your bare hands – get the proper equipment: rubber or leather gloves, tongs or pliers, and a puncture-resistant plastic container with a lid.
- Use tongs or pliers to pick up the needle and place it in the container.
- Secure the lid on the container.
- Wash your hands and gloves.
- Return the container to any pharmacy, or community health centre.
Needle pickup for all regions
Needle distribution and pick-up in Vancouver
If you see a used needle/syringe in Vancouver, please call the hotline at (604) 657-6561 or email needlevan@phs.ca. Staff will go to the area and safely collect and dispose of the needle. The needle van will also distribute harm reduction supplies to locations within Vancouver city limits.
Needle pick-up in Powell River
Within the city limits of Powell River, Powell River Fire Rescue will pick up any needles that are found – please call (604) 485-4431.
Needle pick-up in Sechelt
If a needle is found in a public space, please call Taegan Ackland-Gaetz, Sunshine Coast Harm Reduction Worker, at (604) 841-2726.
Needle pick-up in Richmond
If a needle is found in a public space, please call the City of Richmond Public Works Department at (604) 270-8721.
Find this service near you
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Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Central Community Health Centre
132 West Esplanade North Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Downtown Community Health Centre
569 Powell Street Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Evergreen Community Health Centre
3425 Crowley Drive Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Gibsons Health Unit
821 Gibsons Way Gibsons -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pacific Spirit CHC
2110 West 43rd Avenue Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pemberton Health Centre
1403 Portage Road, PO Box 8 Pemberton -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pender Community Health Centre
59 West Pender Street Vancouver -
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at qathet General Hospital
5000 Joyce Avenue Powell River -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Raven Song Community Health Centre
2450 Ontario Street Vancouver -
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Richmond Hospital ER
Richmond Hospital, 7000 Westminster Highway Richmond -
Other
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Richmond Place
8100 Granville Avenue Richmond -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Robert and Lily Lee Family CHC
1669 East Broadway Vancouver -
Mental health clinics
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Squamish Mental Health and Substance Use Services
38075 2nd Avenue, P.O. Box 220 Squamish -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Three Bridges CHC (West End)
1128 Hornby Street Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Whistler Health Care Centre
4380 Lorimer Road Whistler -
Other
Harm Reduction Supplies and Needle Distribution Site at Community Health Access Center
7671 Alderbridge Way, Unit 210 Richmond