The City of Ottawa is seeing an increase in reports of discarded needles and glass pipes this year, with thousands of items of drug paraphernalia being picked up by city staff and businesses during the first six months of the year. Statistics available on the Ottawa Public Health website show 21,371 needles and 19,619 glass pipes were picked up by Needle Hunters, city staff and residents and businesses between January and June. A total of 13,589 glass pipes and 11,641 needles were retrieved during the January-June period in 2025, and 14,577 glass pipes and 12,028 discarded needles were picked up during the same period in 2024. A total of 7,161 needles and 6,421 glass pipes were retrieved in May, while 6,632 needles and 5,450 glass pipes were picked up in June across the city. Needle Hunters, who collect and dispose of discarded drug paraphernalia in public spaces, have picked up the majority of the discarded drug needles and glass pipes. The Needle Hunters picked up 19,230 glass pipes and 18,429 needles during the January-June period this year, up from 13,046 glass pipes and 10,188 needles picked up in public spaces last year. According to the statistics, 15,116 glass pipes and 13,922 needles were retrieved in the Rideau-Vanier ward between Jan. 1 and June 1 this year, while 5,023 needles and 4,156 glass pipes were retrieved in Somerset ward. Ottawa Public Health reports 1,506 needles and 216 glass pipes were picked up in Kitchissippi ward so far this year. These were the neighbourhoods with the highest number of drug paraphernalia picked up between January and June: Discarded needles Discarded glass pipes (Source: Ottawa Public Health)
