Needle Exchange

Sharp Advice Needle Exchange (S.A.N.E.)

Monday to Friday 9:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 - 8:00. *NEW* Weekends 10:00a to 4:00p

Phone: 902-539-5556

S.A.N.E. provides safe injection equipment (clean needles, alcohol swabs, filters, ties) and sharps containers for safe disposal of used needles to Cape Bretoners in need. The needle exchange also provides outreach services, as required.

The Needle Exchange is an important preventative program which exists to provide clean needles and syringes for injection drug users. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in August 1997 provided over 14,000 clean syringes to 275 drug users. The study concluded that providing sterile needles is an inexpensive means of preventing greater health-care costs. The authors of the study estimated the program prevented 24 new HIV infections over five years. This equals huge savings for the health system as the study estimates that the cost of treating HIV and AIDS over a person’s lifetime could total $1.3 million.

Watch for the our Peer Backpackers in Sydney, New Waterford, Glace Bay, North Sydney and Sydney Mines. They will be out there cleaning up your streets of improperly discarded needles and handing out safe supplies during peek times throughout each month.