Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jun 2008
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Darrell Bellaart
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

CITY NOW WANTS INPUT ON WHERE TO PUT NEEDLE DROP BOXES

Location Of Sharps Drop Containers Is Still Controversial

The city wants to hear from the public before setting up needle drop 
boxes around the downtown.

The Safer Nanaimo Working Group also wants to hear from the public 
about its needle-drop box project.

The group is taking comments at an e-mail address set up to allow 
residents input into where boxes should be located.

Three drop boxes are proposed to reduce the threat of discarded 
needles in neighbourhoods where drug use is rampant.

"And we'd like to hear from them where do they find needles. Are they 
in playgrounds?" asked Coun. Merv Unger, who co-chairs the committee 
with Coun. Diane Brennan.

The project is part of the city's ongoing, overall approach to 
address homelessness and its related issues of mental illness and 
drug addiction. Harm reduction is a cornerstone of the plan to make 
street life safer, both for addicts and other homeless people and for 
the residents affected by homelessness.

"This isn't being done for the drug users, it's being done for you 
and me," Unger said. "This is for the protection of children in 
playgrounds and walking in streets. To be stabbed by an infected 
needle can have serious consequences."

Needle drop boxes give addicts a safe place to dispose of used 
syringes, reducing the threat of disease. It's a simple idea, but 
Unger said it is surprisingly complicated to get an agreement on the 
best way to install them.

The city is working with several branches of the Vancouver Island 
Health Authority, RCMP, business owners, half a dozen community 
organizations and social service agencies and drug users themselves, 
to try to reach consensus.

"This gives you an idea, something as simple as putting three needle 
collection boxes gets carried away to being a major project. I 
suggested we make it easier for the public to have input and we will 
do that through the special e-mail address."

The e-mail address  will remain active until June 20.

The committee plans to install the boxes after that.

No location would necessarily be permanent, but would depend on level of use.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom