Pubdate: Wed, 28 May 2008
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Toby Gorman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

CITY AIMS TO TAKE CARE OF NEEDLES

A discussion over needle drop boxes in Nanaimo's south end is coming 
to a point.

James Younger, a resident responding to a Safer Nanaimo Working Group 
report, says residents in the Nob Hill area are becoming desperate 
trying to keep the neighbourhood free of used hypodermic needles used 
for illegal drug use.

He said parents scour the streets and park in Nob Hill every Friday, 
Saturday and Sunday to keep children safe.

But the parents have no place to put the contaminated needles except 
in the garbage.

"The people in the park call it Needle Thursday," said Younger, 
referring to health services that hand out needles to drug users that 
day. "So we'd better watch our step on Friday."

The working group was established in November 2007 and has since 
worked with downtown businesses and residents to create a needle drop 
box program. From those consultations, a one-year pilot project using 
three drop boxes will begin as soon as suitable locations are found, 
possibly in four to six weeks.

City Coun. Diane Brennan agreed the topic needs to be fast tracked so 
parents can dispose of the needles safely, but said more consultation 
needs to be done.

"We need to know where the best places to put the drop boxes would 
be," she said. "But we're not just going to stand around while 
residents are out there working."

In Nanaimo a needle exchange service is already provided by the 
Vancouver Island Health Authority for intravenous drug users, but the 
service is inadequate for collecting all used needles.

Needle drop boxes can already be found in other areas like airports 
and on ferries, and other municipalities like Ottawa have had success 
with similar programs.

Mayor Gary Korpan said legal implications have delayed the drop 
boxes, but council is taking the matter seriously.

"There is no doubt this should have been done long ago," he said.

The boxes are designed around a one-gallon biohazard pail and when 
full will be emptied by the Fire Rescue Department. From there the 
needles will be stored safely in a locker before being disposed of by 
a dangerous goods-licensed contractor.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom