A new partnership between the Grey Bruce Health Unit and the REACH Centre Grey Bruce has formed to produce safe drug use kits.
The REACH Centre provides programming for youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A release notes the drug kits are available at 18 contracted sites across Grey and Bruce counties through the Harm Reduction Program at Public Health.
The safe injection kits will be assembled by REACH Centre participants, which are required at their new facility in Grey Bruce.
REACH Centre Executive Director Jennifer Miller says, they are excited about this partnership and doing their part to contribute in a meaningful way.
“The agency is committed to giving back to the community that has been so supportive,” says Miller.
According to the release, over the course of the Covid pandemic, assistance to put together the kits has declined, but public health staff have continued this work.
In addition to providing needle syringes to 18 locations across Grey Bruce, Public Health makes Naloxone available for EMS provides, police, hospitals, and other organizations. It also provides education programs and outreach, delivering harm reduction supplies and connections to mental health and addiction services.
Harm Reduction Manager for the Grey Bruce Health Unit Ian Reich says the partnership comes at a critical time when they were facing increased challenges to assemble these kit of safe drug use equipment for residents that need it.
“These kits helps prevent unwanted blood borne infections, such as Hepatitis C and HIV, which in turn, reduce the overall cost to the health care system, and also ensures the ongoing provision of Harm Reduction Services in Grey and Bruce,” says Reich.
More details about the safe drug use program can be found on the Health Unit website.