Pubdate: Sat, 11 Apr 2015
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2015 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Tyler Clarke
Page: A3

DISCARDED NEEDLES PROMPT DEBATE

Dumped on the boulevard just outside his home, Coun. Lee Atkinson 
found dozens of used needles and other drug paraphernalia first thing 
Friday morning.

Not too big a surprise, he shrugged, noting that needles are a common 
sight around his midtown area home.

A few houses down, there's a vacant property with several needles, 
aerosol cans, clothing, a mattress and mouth wash containers strewn about.

As the snow melts, evidence of a winter's worth of nefarious acts are 
being uncovered, prompting the Prince Albert Fire Department's annual 
warning to look out for sharps.

Many of the needles used by the city's intravenous drug users come 
from the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region's Straight to the Point 
Harm Reduction Program.

Between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, the needle exchange handed 
out 1,278,150 needles and received back 1,196,854 - a shortfall of 81,196.

Thousands of these needles have turned up alongside the railroad 
tracks east of the Central Avenue viaduct, where on Thursday an area 
business owner lamented the ongoing problem he's witness to on a daily basis.

This trouble area is a few blocks west of the Straight to the Point 
Harm Reduction Program office where needles are handed out.

Also a common sight in his neighbourhood, Atkinson is calling to 
question the very notion of a needle exchange.

"You wonder about the syringe activity - Maybe we need to enact a 
bylaw for a prohibition of distribution of syringes or maybe you can 
only buy them at drug stores legitimately," he said.

"I think we, as a city, need to look at things and say; Really? Is 
the program successful of the distribution to prevent possible 
disease or sharing of needles and things, or are we condoning the activity?

In the meantime, Atkinson would also like to see the city adopt Safer 
Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) - legislation the provincial 
government advertises as a means of empowering "residents to take 
back their neighbourhoods by reporting problem residences or 
businesses that are habitually used for illegal activities."

SCAN allows police the ability to get a court order for a property to 
be vacated within 24 hours and remain vacant for up to six months.

The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region estimates that there are 
about 600 injection drug users within the region.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom