Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Sites
Related topics: Harm reduction Mental health and substance use Richmond mental health and substance use services Substance use Vancouver mental health and substance use services

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
Information and resources on how to prevent and respond to overdoses.
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Substance use and harm reduction resources for health professionals and service providers
Substance use and harm reduction training, education and other resources for health professionals, service providers and overdose prevention sites.
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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 Raven Song Community Health Centre
1.59 km2450 Ontario StreetVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Three Bridges CHC (West End)
2.39 km1128 Hornby StreetVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pender Community Health Centre
2.91 km59 West Pender StreetVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pacific Spirit CHC
3.60 km2110 West 43rd AvenueVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Downtown Community Health Centre
3.71 km569 Powell StreetVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Robert and Lily Lee Family CHC
3.89 km1669 East BroadwayVancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Central Community Health Centre
6.84 km132 West EsplanadeNorth Vancouver -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Evergreen Community Health Centre
7.04 km3425 Crowley DriveVancouver -
Other
Harm Reduction Supplies and Needle Distribution Site at Community Health Access Center
9.25 km7671 Alderbridge Way, Unit 210Richmond -
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Richmond Hospital ER
9.92 kmRichmond Hospital, 7000 Westminster HighwayRichmond -
Other
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Richmond Place
10.62 km8100 Granville AvenueRichmond -
Mental health clinics
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Squamish Mental Health and Substance Use Services
49.25 km38075 2nd Avenue, P.O. Box 220Squamish -
Harm Reduction & Harm Reduction Supplies at Sunshine Coast
51.35 km5542 Sunshine Coast Hwy, PO Box 949 Sechelt -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Whistler Health Care Centre
96.69 km4380 Lorimer RoadWhistler -
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at qathet General Hospital
120.41 km5000 Joyce AvenuePowell River -
Community health centres
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Pemberton Health Centre
120.48 km1403 Portage Road, PO Box 8Pemberton