Harm Reduction and Population and Public Health
Harm reduction is an approach to substance use (including alcohol, cannabis, and other substances) and drug policy. The aim of harm reduction is to support the health and wellbeing of people who use substances. Harm reduction aims to reach people in a way that respects their unique circumstance and “meets them where they are.”
Population and Public Health is one of the many health and social service sectors that apply a harm reduction approach. The goals of applying a harm reduction approach in Population and Public Health are to:
- Reduce negative impacts of substance use, particularly:
- Stigma
- Sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBI); and
- Unregulated-substance risks, including drug poisoning (overdose).
- Improve social and structural conditions for communities affected by STBBI and drug-related harms; and
- Reduce access barriers to harm reduction services and supplies for people who use drugs.
On This Page:
- Position Statements
- Manitoba’s Take-Home Naloxone Program
- Harm Reduction Supply Distribution Programs
- Epidemiology and Surveillance Reports
- For More Information
Position Statements
- Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Position Statement: Harm Reduction
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority: Position Statement on Harm Reduction
Manitoba’s Take-Home Naloxone Program
The provincial Take-Home Naloxone Distribution Program provides free take-home naloxone kits to members of the public who are at risk of opioid overdose (toxicity), and family or friends who may witness opioid toxicity.
To find a Take Home Naloxone Distribution Site visit Naloxone Finder.
Harm Reduction Supply Distribution Programs
Harm Reduction supply distribution programs prevent STBBI, reduce drug harms, and connect people who use drugs to health and social services. Supply distribution programs distribute safer drug injection supplies (e.g., sterile needles, cookers/filters) and safer smoking supplies. There is strong evidence that needle distribution is a cost-effective public health intervention.
Population and Public Health teams in Manitoba regional health authorities organize and facilitate the operation of harm reduction supply distribution and retrieval services. The teams work in partnership with other organizations to distribute and retrieve supplies in their health region. Provincial standards and guidelines for Population and Public Health practice are available online.
Find services in your region:
- Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority Harm Reduction
- Northern Health Harm Reduction
- Prairie Mountain Health Harm Reduction
- Southern Health-Sante Sud Harm Reduction Initiative
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Street Connections - a mobile public health service in Winnipeg that offers nursing services, safer sex and drug use supplies, drug checking services and drug alerts.
Find information about evidence-informed practices to improve the disposal and safe handling of discarded needles in the community here: Safe Needle Disposal.
Epidemiology and Surveillance Reports
- Substance Related Harms Surveillance Report
- Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI) Surveillance Report
For More Information
For more information about harm reduction, naloxone and other partners who offer information and services, visit:
- Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy
- Government of Canada's sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) action plan 2024-2030
- Mental Health and Addictions Treatment and Recovery Branch
- Mental Health Promotion and Harm Reduction Branch
- Take-Home Naloxone Distribution Program
- Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
- Southern Chief’s Organization – Harm Reduction Program
- Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin – Minoayawin Mobile Outreach Program
