Ottawa’s Move for Harm Reduction via Vending Machines

It has been reported that Ottawa has installed new machines. The vending machines are for needles and crack pipes. These are sterile devices for use to reduce the probability of non-sterile ones being used. This is intended to reduce the number of infections related to drug use.

Harm reduction dispensing unit outside Somerset West Community Health Centre (Source: Somerset West Community Health Centre)

The new machines are located at the Ottawa Public Health centers, who offer safe needle exchanges now.
The kits will contain a tie, three syringes, and alcohol swabs. The machines will make 24/7 service a reality for the community, for access to the needles, pipes, and so on.
Why these services 24/7 through vending machines in Ottawa? The main intention comes from the reduction of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.

The users of the vending machines will need tokens, which can be acquired through the center’s staff. It is important to note that this is not a full-scale initiative at the present time because these cost $20,000 to $25,000. Las Vegas and Vancouver are hosts to similar programs of action.

The empirical support is in favor of harm reduction. So, the move towards the vending machines for around-the-clock services devoted to its movement will reduce the number of infectious diseases in the addict community, which would have otherwise been higher without the harm reduction philosophy in practice.