The Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) has been a program of the Kingston Community Health Centres since 2006. OHRDP is funded by the HIV and Hepatitis C Programs within the Ministry of Health.
OHRDP’s focus is to ensure Ontario’s harm reduction programs have:
- equitable access to evidence-based harm reduction supplies
- the knowledge and tools they need to share with service-users about safer practices to reduce harms and the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C
- inventory knowledge and tools to support the management of harm reduction supplies for the more than 850 access points in the province
OHRDP coordinates the distribution of harm reduction supplies to Ontario’s 34 Public Health Units. Those Public Health Units, also called Core Programs, distribute the harm reduction supplies to their community agencies. As mentioned, there are more than 850 locations in Ontario communities where individuals can obtain new supplies, knowledge about safer practices, and engage with staff who can offer referrals and other supports. Through the distribution of sterile single-use equipment, and better education, communities can stay safer and healthier.
The OHRDP website has a search engine with two important maps. One helps individuals locate where they can obtain free, sterile harm reduction supplies anywhere in Ontario. The other map shows individuals where they can safely dispose of used harm reduction supplies in their community.
For more information on the harm reduction supplies available through OHRDP or to locate the search engine, Find Supplies, please visit www.ohrdp.ca.
For more information on how to use harm reduction supplies as tools for client engagement and to better understand safer practices, consider downloading our publication: Connecting A Guide to using Harm Reduction Supplies as Engagement Tools
The OHRDP team can be reached through phone, email, or website correspondence. As a program with a provincial scope, OHRDP does not offer “in person” services.