History

The first Needle Syringe Program is established through Toronto Public Health

Needle Syringe Programs are established as mandatory provincial programs

Ontario Needle Syringe Programs distributed 3.2 million needles and syringes

OHRDP established in response to the prevalence of HCV and HIV infection among people who use drugs; 31 public health units providing harm reduction supplies; Introduction
of the Best Practice Recommendations for Canadian Harm Reduction Programs

32 public health units providing harm reduction supplies

Ontario Public Health standards state that Boards of Health in all public health regions "shall ensure access to a variety of sterile needles and syringes and may include other evidence-informed harm reduction strategies in response to local surveillance"; 33 Public Health Units now providing harm reduction supplies

35 out of 36 public health units providing harm reduction supplies

In all 36 health unit regions, individuals can now access new sterile supplies, education and support through harm reduction programs

Review of the Best Practice Recommendations for Canadian Harm Reduction Programs: Part 1

Safer crack smoking supplies now available through OHRDP

Introduction of the Best Practice Recommendations: Part 2

867 Ontarians died from opioid overdose

First Supervised Injection Site opens in Toronto while other communities open temporary sites to help address the rise in overdoses; 1,265 Ontarians died in 2017 from opioid overdose - a 46% increase since 2016

Crystal Meth bowl pipes are added to OHRDP supplies; Ministry of Health funds the first Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) program. The CTS provides integrated wrap-around services connecting individuals who use drugs to primary care, treatment and other health and social services

100% of Public Health Units are providing safer injecting and safer inhalation supplies through more than 435+ access points in Ontario; Foil is added to OHRDP supplies

BZK (benzalkonium chloride) Wipes are made available to support Programs with Covid-19 protocols and hand hygiene

Connecting - A Guide to Using Harm Reduction Supplies as Engagement Tools is published by OHRDP

More than 460+ access points (including fixed sites and mobile outreach) in Ontario providing harm reduction supplies

Attached Needles, Syringes and Needle Tips for Harm Reduction are now available to the Public Health Units through OHRDP.