Harm reduction programs are part of a comprehensive prevention strategy through public health that aim to reduce the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).

Harm reduction programs contribute to improved health by:

  • reducing the incidence of drug-related health and social harms, including the spread of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs)
  • creating community safety through provision, exchange, distribution, and recovery of supplies for safer sex and drug use
  • promoting and facilitating referrals to primary care, addictions, mental health, and social services
  • reducing the barriers to accessing health and social services, reducing stigma and discriminations, as well as raising awareness of harm reduction principles, policies, and programs
  • reducing opioid overdose death and health-related harms

Provincial Prevention and Risk Reduction Policy
January 2016

Drug use practices that can lead to transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and other harms are a critical public health issue. Evidence demonstrates that effective communicable disease prevention programming, where clients receive health-related services, prevention and education, counselling, linkages to addictions services, emergency support, and access to clean supplies for using drugs, can reduce transmission of blood-borne infections and other harms.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health provides annualized funding to some Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) for Prevention and Risk Reduction (PRR) Programming. Some regions work with community partners such as community-based organizations to deliver PRR programming.

Information about specific harm reduction programs in Saskatchewan cities, town, and communities can be found here.