Harm Reduction / Project X-Change

In-office X-Change hours:

Oshawa Office  –  Mon to Fri  – 8:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 4:00

Whitby Office  –  Mon to Fri  –  8:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 4:00

Bowmanville Office  –  Mon to Fri  – 8:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 4:00pm

Mobile Outreach (covers Durham Region)   Mon to Fri – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Mobile Outreach # 905-440-5410   

Don’t forget the Naloxone!

Remember to wash your hands often and clean the area you are using. Please be safe and stay healthy.

Project X-Change

Project X-Change is a Harm Reduction program dedicated to protecting the general public and substance users from contamination caused by indiscriminate disposal in public areas and use of infected items.  The program provides access to sterile needles and other single-use sterile items such as water, alcohol swabs, Vitamin C, cookers and filters as well as condoms and latex-free tourniquets.  Referrals to a variety of services ranging from Health Care to Addiction Treatment Programs are available upon request along with safer injection and safer sex information for people engaging in at-risk activities.

Naloxone kits and easy to use nasal spray refills are now available for you or someone you know that is at-risk of an opioid overdose. Naloxone spray can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.

Project X-Change is funded by the Durham Region Health Department and has satellite site partnerships with the Aids Committee of Durham Region,  Pinewood Centre and Mental Health Service as well as a number of other locations through out Durham Region.  We are also an active member of the Durham Harm Reduction Coalition.

To find an exchange location near you: https://ohrdp.ca/find-supplies/

The public is encouraged to access the services of Project X-Change, available in our Oshawa, Whitby and Bowmanville offices from Monday to Friday. Our mobile outreach workers operate evenings, Monday to Friday from 6 – 11 pm.

Contact:

Beth Whalen, Coordinator, Harm Reduction Services
beth.whalen@jhsd.ca

Additional resources you may find useful:

Harm Reduction: Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/canadian-drugs-substances-strategy/harm-reduction.html

Best Practice Recommendations for Canadian Harm Reduction Programs:  https://www.catie.ca/sites/default/files/2021-11/3382_CATIE_CarolStrike_BestPracticeRecommendations_2021-EN-Final.pdf

Durham Region Health Department Report: https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/resources/Documents/HealthInformationServices/HealthStatisticsReports/Snapshot-on-Harm-Reduction.pdf

Rapid Review: Unlimited versus Restrictive Distribution Policies in Needle and Syringe Programs:

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/N/24/needle-syringe-distribution-policies.pdf?