Ontario Harm Reduction Conference April 30 to May 2, 2017 Toronto, Ontario Views expressed in the attached document do not necessarily represent those of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care or those of Kingston Community Health Centres. If you have any questions related to the document, you are encouraged to contact the source.
Sharps Disposal Initiative - a program of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Exchange Works Doug Ironside & Mia Brown Program Leads Janice Greco- Program Manager
Discussion Points Goals of Sharps Disposal Initiative Disposal Options Local Program Statistics SMDHU Exchange Works Disposal Sites
SMDHU Catchment Area
Ontario Public Health Standards Priority populations have access to harm reduction services to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne infections The Board of Health shall ensure access to a variety of harm reduction program delivery models which shall include the provision of sterile needles and syringes and may include other evidenceinformed harm reduction strategies in response to local surveillance.
Common HR Structure Like any other Harm Reduction program, SMDHU s NEP Exchange Works provides clean supplies to IDUs and accepts used needles back Additionally, sharps containers of various kinds have been dispensed to IDU s, to facilitate returns. We have larger containers on hand to facilitate loose returns, or improvised containers.
Common Sharps Containers
Common Goals of HR Programs Reduce transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and C Educate IDUs on the risks involved in sharing needles, sharing drug paraphernalia, unprotected sex Provide a supportive environment that encourages clients to access health, counselling and social services Support safe disposal options/services for our communities and partners
Additional NEP Goals Manage public perception, minimize objection, create community buy-in Provide community with resources and information regarding found needles Provide support to community organizations, partners, municipalities Accentuate needle disposal options
Accentuating Needle Disposal More permanent sharps solutions have been purchased by Exchange Works for Not-for- Profit partners to be installed in/on their buildings or washrooms. Supports are provided to other businesses, agencies or municipalities to access these options or provide education on safe handling and safe disposal
Common Areas for Discarded Needles Public/Municipal Washrooms Washroom Stalls/garbage Public Parks Near Distribution Outlets Behind buildings, alleyways, side streets Playgrounds, schoolyards, beaches
Sharps Disposal Options
Disposal Partner Timeline 2010-1 Business, 1 Co- op Housing Unit 2011-2 Businesses, Town of Bracebridge 2012- CMHA Barrie, NP clinic, 2 'Out of the Cold' sites, Town of Huntsville 2013-2 Shelters 2014-1 First Nation site 2015-1 Municipal Library, 1 Shelter 2016-2 Shelters, 1 Common Roof Building, 1 Out of the Cold Site
Agencies that have consulted with us to limit Hazardous Disposal City of Barrie Town of Midland Town of Penetanguishene Township of Innisfil
Prison Unit Features: All metal housing Top entry chute Separate hard plastic liner Pre-drilled holes for wall-mounting Comes with a pair of keys, identical from unit to unit Additional padlock optional Drawbacks: Expensive Additional Units and Liners only available from USA
Different versions
Custom Prison Unit Town of Midland, cost-conscious, engages a local HVAC company to fabricate something similar slightly reduced cost Purchased locally
Kiosk Unit Larger, stand alone units for outdoor spaces Large volume Expensive to purchase Needs monitoring Tamper-resistant May be filled with refuse or other junk
Older style, Kiosk Unit
Costs and Contracts SMDHU Contract Template
Needles Distributed and Returned in Simcoe Muskoka
What can effect the return rate? By encouraging partners to provide disposal units for public use, SMDHU no longer receives the returns at their sites, therefore we see a small decrease in returns. SMDHU must make sure to track how many units were billed by the disposal company and translate the disposal of the different sized units in needles returned. Eg 22L Pail = approx.2100 needles It is possible that we could also see an increase in returns by bringing on more NFP partners that are responsible for returning full containers to any of the SMDHU sites for safe disposal Reporting from NEP sites/partners can vary d/t the capacity of some partners to properly track IN/OUT of needles
Questions