Last week, Saskatchewan ended a nearly six-year-old policy of distributing clean pipes, like the one pictured here in an Ottawa file photo. Last week, the provincial health ministry announced it would stop providing clean pipes and require people to return a used needle in order to receive a clean needle. The province's new rules mean third-party organizations will also not be able to use provincial funds to provide clean pipes. Harm reduction sites "are a lifeline for some of the clientele that visit on a regular basis, because they can get support [and] they can be heard," said Breland. Treatment, harm reduction both needed: advocatesThe mental health and addictions minister told CBC last week the policy change should signal that "there's hope for recovery."

Source: CBC News January 25, 2024 05:40 UTC