It’s concerning on a number of levels that the volume of used needles being found around town has seen a big spike in the last six months.
About two dozen a month isn’t a reason to panic, certainly, but it’s enough to make us want to know why there’s so many turning up in our public places all of a sudden.
Make no mistake, it is highly unlikely that these needles are from random diabetics needing to give themselves insulin.
These needles are from people who are injecting illegal, hard drugs into their veins.
They’re being used to dose addicts with cocaine, heroin and crystal meth.
The sudden increase in needles begs the question: is this the visible detritus left behind by an increase in these drugs in the community?
There have always been some, but are they on the rise?
Are there new users moving to town? Are more locals taking up the habit?
Presumably longtime users in the community know about and use the needle drop-off stations around town.
It seems unlikely a passel of them just decided to start discarding their needles around town instead.
The RCMP are no doubt looking into these questions.
But in the meantime, it behoves business owners and the public to be careful.
If you get stuck with one of these needles you may be exposed to some serious illnesses, from which IV drug users suffer at a greater rate than the general population, because of an often high-risk lifestyle.
It’s prudent to look around you before you sit down in Centennial or Charles Hoey parks, either on the grass or on benches or playground equipment.
Business owners should take extra care before digging into their outdoor planters.
The publicity now being given to the matter may help to clear things up in fairly short order.
Most drug users have no interest in actively endangering others, and will use the drop boxes to discard their paraphernalia as long as they know about them. The ultimate goal, of course, is to get as many people as possible off drugs.
In the meantime, it’s about harm reduction for everyone.