Pubdate: Sat, 01 Sep 2007
Source: Cowichan News Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Cowichan News Leader
Contact:  http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314
Author: Peter Rusland
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

POLITICOS PUSHING FOR SAFE NEEDLE DISPOSAL

Regional politicians want public feedback about  providing public tool
kits for safe disposal of used  drug syringes found locally.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District's Community  Safety Advisory
Committee recently introduced the  issue.

Following debate, it may back a funding application by  an agency such
as Social Planning Cowichan toward the  public safety drive against a
glut of used needles  being found locally.

City Mayor Phil Kent describes a community partnership  among various
groups that might provide tool kits for  residents.

Those kits would describe how to safely handle found  sharps and drop
them into a bottle for disposal,  possibly at the Cowichan District
Hospital or the  Margaret Moss Health Unit.

However, Kent stresses trashing the syringes aE" that  may be tainted
with HIV and lethal dope like heroin aE"  doesn't spell a local needle
exchange program.

"That's really more for different agencies to manage.

"We're focused on public safety about sharps left in  the open
environment."

Needles are regularly dropped in a disposal container  in the city's
train station washroom.

They're also found behind the Cairnsmore Street  7-Eleven store, on
Duncan Elementary school grounds and  elsewhere where folks could be
jabbed.

Jack Peake, CVRD chairman, believes getting rid of  Cowichan's used
drug syringes is a good first step but  providing addicts clean
needles is another matter.

"It boils down to finding ways to get people off the  drugs that
create this problem.

"That's the priority: getting people clean and on to  productive
lives."

But Peake supports ways to protect non-users from  fouled
needles.

"This disposal program appears to be the bare-bones
minimum."

He knows of one local grocery store used for shooting  up and where
needles are left behind.

"Everywhere you turn this is a problem for society."

The regional safety committee's drive for safe needle  disposal may
get more debate at the board table, Peake  says, before ways to
bankroll it are discussed.

He urges citizens to contact directors and councils  about the need
for such a program and even about  providing clean syringes.

"Is this the feeling of the whole community or a  reactive few?" he
asks, citing Vancouver's successful  needle exchange and one planned
for Victoria.

"We want to know what the community at large thinks."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath