Mobile Community Health: The Core Of Our Outreach

At Sanguen, we believe that that people who use drugs deserve to be treated with respect and to have access to health and social services. We also believe that everyone in our community, whether they use drugs or not, deserves to be healthy and safe.

We know that it can be difficult for people to access reliable information, support, and medical care – for a lot of different reasons. Sanguen has dedicated Outreach Workers.. but our entire team also provides service via outreach in addition to at our clinic and community spaces!

 

What Does The Outreach Team Do For People Who Take Drugs?

We can help you:

  • access harm reduction supplies and information
  • pick up your filled sharps containers from wherever you live (including camps, hotels, etc.)
  • learn about safer substance use, overdose prevention, and how to use naloxone/narcan
  • learn more about hepatitis C, testing, and treatment
  • test you for hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis
  • learn more about Sanguen Health Centre and the work we do

We are pleased to offer outreach services in both Waterloo Region and in Guelph-Wellington.

All outreach services are based on a harm reduction philosophy (see below) and are always confidential and free of judgement.

 

We Provide Education – To Everyone

Understanding drug use, and creating an inclusive community, is really difficult if we’re uncomfortable talking about drugs and harm reduction. The best way to become comfortable is to learn the facts (we don’t believe in scare tactics) and the reality of drug use in our Region.

Our team provides educational workshops and presentations on a variety of topics – including harm reduction, substance use (“Drugs 101”), hepatitis C, overdose prevention, naloxone/narcan, and many other issues that may impact people who use drugs. All presentations are focused on what’s happening in our community – and includes information about the resources available here.

In addition to presenting to community groups and agencies, we’re also available to present to service users – youth, teens, and adults.

All of our presentations are harm reduction-focused (see below).

We can customize our presentation to your specific needs and time constraints. Depending on your interest, presentations can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as a full-day event.

To find out more about our presentations, email Simone at smorrison@sanguen.com or Alice at amaguire@sanguen.com

 

Harm Reduction Saves Lives!

What Is Harm Reduction?

 

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.” (read more here)

At Sanguen, harm reduction includes our needle-syringe distribution and return program, safer inhalation kits, drug education, vein and wound care, and so much more. We aim to be non-judgemental, open minded, and accessible to people in our community who use drugs. Our harm reduction focus extends beyond just our outreach team, and includes all of our staff and peer outreach workers.

 

How to Contact the Outreach Team

Please email outreach@sanguen.com.