Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that The region health agencies in Thunder Bay, Ont., are urging people to clean out their medicine cabinets to properly dispose of expired medications, vitamins and drug equipment.
NorWest Citizens Health Centres (NWCHC) hosted the city’s annual Drug Amnesty Day event on Wednesday, where people were given the chance to fall off old medications and drug-related items outside the organization’s office at 525 Simpson St. the city continues to have the highest opioid-related death rate in the province at more than five times the Ontario rate,according to the Office of the Chief Coroner. A large part of the problem is increasingly toxic drugs in the street supply, which are often mixed with animal tranquillizers and prescription medications, explained NorWest manager Nicole Fieduna.
“We're seeing pain medication — so those really common meds that some people have brought today, your Dilaudid, your Percocets — those are being sold on the street with other substances mixed into it,” Fieduna declared. “That kind of tells you why we don't want to have those medications at home because they might find their way into the streets.” Keeping old medications at home may also put children and pets at risk, she added. “Why keep it at home? It's keeping clutter, you might be misusing it, the medication doesn't have the same efficacy anymore,” Fieduna advised. “If we don't dispose of them correctly or are putting them down toilets or putting it into the garbage, it puts a risk towards our waterways and also our wildlife.” What's behind fall in opioid-related deaths, rise in 911 calls in Ontario? Researcher gives insight Veterinary tranquillizer in more than 70% of recent Thunder Bay, Ont., drug samples Wednesday’s event was run in partnership with Syndicate Pharmacy, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s Superior Points Program, the Lakehead Drug Strategy and the Thunder Bay Authorities Service.
Otherwise, Fieduna cautions them to “safely pop the top, grab the top of the plunger and put it within a hard case, like a Gatorade bottle,” before putting it in a sharps container.
However, people can decrease off old prescriptions any time at their nearest pharmacy. “Every medication or drug-related item that is safely disposed of is one less potential source of accidental poisoning, misuse, and environmental contamination,” stated NorWest’s chief executive officer, Juanita Lawson, in a news release. Another safety concern is used drug equipment, such as pipes and needles, in public spaces. People can find sharps container locations in the municipality through theOntario Harm Reduction Program Locations mapor by searching on the freeLifeguardConnect app. Those who don’t feel comfortable picking up a needle themselves can contact Superior Points. Otherwise, Fieduna cautions them to “safely pop the top, grab the top of the plunger and put it within a hard case, like a Gatorade bottle,” before putting it in a sharps container. People who use drugs can get them checked for free atNorWest’s mobile outreach vanto see what’s in their substances before they consume them. Fieduna also urges people to get the LifeguardConnect app so they can see the latest drug alerts. The app features a ‘use alone’ timer. If the timer isn’t stopped, this may signal the user has overdosed and urgent response services are notified of their location. Thunder Bay Authorities Service extends foot patrol pilot program to address downtown safety alarm This mobile walk-in clinic in Thunder Bay, Ont., aims to make health-care less intimidating Fieduna shared she hopes Wednesday’s event helps spread awareness about resources available in town and the importance of having conversations about substances with loved ones. “It's a really great way to be a contributing the area member in ways that you might have not thought about it. Is it picking up sharps, looking through your house for those expired medications, or coming by just to learn more around things and conversations that might make you uncomfortable?” she stated. Sarah Law is a CBC News reporter based in the northwestern Ontario hub, Ont., and has also worked for newspapers and online publications elsewhere in the province. Have a story tip? You can reach her at sarah.law@cbc.ca. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onCBC Gem..
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📍 Source: CBC News Thunder Bay · By: CBC News Staff · 🗓️ July 29, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
