These tiny shards of glass are a sign of shifting drug use in Ottawa
the pipes as well. It’s about making sure that everyone understands the risks and knows how to safely dispose of these items to protect themselves and the community.
As the trend of smoking hard drugs continues to rise in Ottawa, harm reduction workers are calling for a safe inhalation site to address the growing issue of smoking overdoses. While smoking may seem like a safer alternative to injecting, the risk of overdose remains the same. Overdose deaths involving inhalation have been on the rise in Ontario, highlighting the urgent need for a supervised space for people to smoke drugs safely.
Without a designated inhalation site, people are forced to smoke on the streets, increasing the likelihood of injury and death in the event of an overdose. Supervised consumption sites currently only allow for injection, leaving smokers without a safe space to use their drugs. Harm reduction workers are advocating for the province to allow smoking in these sites to better monitor and respond to potential overdoses.
In the meantime, the public is urged to properly dispose of any glass pipes found on the streets. While pipes do not pose the same risk of blood-borne illnesses as needles, they can still transmit diseases through saliva or blood residue. It is important to treat them as biohazards and use proper equipment, such as tongs and sharps containers, when handling them. Harm reduction facilities can provide these tools and guidance on how to safely dispose of pipes.
The increase in recovered glass pipes on Ottawa’s streets is a clear indication of the shifting drug use trends in the city. As the number of pipes surpasses that of needles, it is crucial that education and resources are provided to address this growing issue and ensure the safety of both drug users and the public. In the face of this changing landscape, harm reduction workers continue to advocate for solutions that prioritize the health and well-being of those affected by substance use.
