Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 Author: Erica Bajer HIDEOUT A DRUG HAVEN Used Syringes Found Under Creekside Parking Lot A hazardous materials team collected dozens of dirty needles from a dank, seedy hideout under a downtown parking lot yesterday. "It's a biological hazard," said Sgt. Gary Conn, of the Chatham- Kent Police Service. He estimated seeing more than 50 used syringes and other drug paraphernalia in the cavernous space under 65 King St. W. during a recent visit. The area, along the bank of McGregor's Creek near Tecumseh Park, is known by local youth as "the land of no wind" and "the cove," he said. "Recently we've had some complaints about people going down there and doing drugs," Conn said. Commonly injected drugs include heroine, methamphetamine and cocaine. Evidence of drug use was littered throughout the area, including countless syringe wrappers, used needles and empty saline solution containers. Packets with cards from the Chatham-Kent Needle Exchange Program, condoms and brochures about STDs were also strewn about. Graffiti covers most of the concrete walls and ceiling, and clothes and trash were scattered on the dirt floor. Pat Bruette, director of public works south for the municipality, said after the area is cleaned out, it will be barricaded. "Hopefully that will put a stop to it," he said. He noted several trees and bushes were cut from the area yesterday to make it more visible. Bruette said he's never seen anything like the mess under the parking lot. In public works, he said employees aren't usually exposed to dirty needles and drug paraphernalia. He couldn't say how many used syringes he spotted. "I didn't try to count them, it was a significant number," he said. A local business owner, who didn't want to be identified, said she has recently started seeing people going to the area. "Obviously anything that happens under there is no good," she said. "It's been a concern of ours -- it was only a matter of time before something bad happened." The woman noticed used needles around the riverbank, in the area of the parking lot. She called police, who stepped up patrols in the area. She's impressed that police and the municipality are taking such swift action. "It takes a weight off our shoulders," she said. An employee at another local shop, who didn't want to give his name, said he's heard of people going down there. However, he didn't realize they were doing drugs. "I'm surprised there hasn't been more crime in the area because of that," he said. Conn said police believe the area is frequented by youth because of the large amount of graffiti. As well, he said a group of local youths were caught down there recently. They were warned to stay away and none of them were in possession of any drugs, he added. April Rietdyk, director of public health, was surprised to hear of the number of syringes discovered under the parking lot. "This injection site was not known," she said. "We would find many more sites like this if the needle exchange program wasn't in existence." She said 80 per cent of the syringes handed out by the needle exchange program are returned. Approximately 10,000 needles are given out each month, she said. Distributed along with syringes through the program are wipes, sterile water, condoms and information about STDs, Rietdyk said. The government-mandated harm reduction program, which started locally in 1999, is aimed at ensuring intravenous drug users have access to sterile needles. The program is often an addict's first point of contact with the health care system and a large number are referred for addiction services, Rietdyk said. The director said drug use among local youth who attend school is low, under 10 per cent, according to the 2007 youth health assessment. She noted the average age of a drug user in the needle exchange program is over 35. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath