The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is trying an incentive to get drug users to return used needles.
It will give people in this group a $5 gift card for every 100 used needles or syringes they bring in during November.
The health unit calls the initiative Sharps Buy Back Month.
The incentive is only available during November.
However the needle exchange service it operates is available year round.
- Advertisement -
The exchange service is to reduce the risk of people getting blood borne infections as the result of using someone else’s needle.
The service is intended to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.
The health unit says drug users can inadvertently spread HIV, or hepatitis and other diseases if someone else uses their needles.