Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Source: Martlet (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2012 Martlet Publishing Society
Contact:  http://www.martlet.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3140
Author: Brandon Rosario

UVSS MOVES FORWARD ON NEEDLE DISPOSAL BOXES

The UVic Students' Society (UVSS) has agreed to move forward with the 
installation and ongoing maintenance of needle disposal boxes in 
designated areas around the SUB.

A motion to provide the main hallway bathrooms and Munchie Bar with 
drop-off boxes was put forward by UVSS Chairperson Tara Paterson, 
after the UVic Department of Occupational Safety and Environment 
reported its finding of 10 stray needles on university grounds in 2010 
and 15 more in 2011. 

AIDS Vancouver Island (AVI) and Campus Security have also discovered a 
number of discarded needles in various places around UVic. "Because 
there have been needles found on campus and because we know that there 
are diabetics, people injecting hormones [and] intravenous drug users, 
this does pose a bit of a safety concern," says Paterson.

Disposal boxes will be similar to the ones currently used by B.C 
Ferries, said Paterson, and will cost roughly $200 initially plus a 
$96 pickup fee as needed.

"This is just a start up cost; there are some costs that would be 
[needed] to maintain it, though they would minimal," she says. 

Letters of endorsement from the Society of Living Intravenous Drug 
Users (SOLID) and the UVSS Harm Less Club were sent to the board in 
March 2011, with both groups expressing their views on how clearly 
marked needle depositories would greatly reduce the risk of dangerous 
or fatal mishaps.

"Providing people on campus with safe places to dispose of drug use 
supplies is safer for the entire population of UVic, including 
students and campus workers, by helping to alleviate the risk of 
inappropriately discarded syringes," wrote the staff at SOLID.

"Harm reduction, particularly in the realm of needle disposal, leads 
to increased health in the community," wrote Daniel Prince, Harm Less 
Club's signing officer.

"Our commitment to this project is such that we are prepared to take 
the financial responsibility for installation and maintenance of the 
proposed needle boxes," he wrote. 

Director of Finance and Operations Dylan Sherlock agreed that a simple 
and discreet means of disposing needles on campus would pay huge 
health dividends for its relatively low start-up cost, adding that the 
board should "do [it] without thought."

However, some board members were skeptical of Harm Less Club's offer 
to collect dirty needles from the boxes on a volunteer basis without 
professional training or supervision.

"I wouldn't feel safe having students, community members or 
non-professionals handling [used needles] because it's hazardous 
waste," says Director-at-Large David Foster. "This has to have 
professional maintenance."

Both Harm Less and SOLID offered to provide volunteer pickup and 
disposal in their respective letters.

Having had first-hand experience at a prior job where she was 
scratched with a needle hidden between some bedsheets, Director of 
Student Affairs Jenn Bowie expressed concern over club members or 
other community members being put into the unnecessarily risky 
position of collecting needles when the UVSS has an option to hire 
professionals.

She also suggested that the UVSS eat start-up costs in order to 
prevent Harm Less from exhausting its budget.

Officially registered clubs receive around a hundred dollars from the 
UVSS per semester barring any extra funding obtained from special 
projects grants.

"I don't want Harm Less to give up an entire semester's budget for 
just one project when they could be putting that money towards greater 
outreach," says Bowie.

The $96 pickup contract will go to Green Check, a company unaffiliated 
with university janitorial services that specializes in the removal 
and transportation of hazardous materials.

The money will be covered by the SUB's Building Operations account and 
pickups will be adjusted according to volume.

Almost all science and medical facilities at institutions around 
Canada have their own disposal and pickup infrastructure for syringes 
and other discarded sharps. By applying the safety procedures of this 
lab formality to the commons, the UVSS hopes the new boxes will 
encourage both legal and illicit users to take responsible measures in 
getting rid of their paraphernalia. 

"We are extremely pleased that UVic has joined the ranks with other 
North American universities in forming a progressive, pro-active 
approach to drug policies," said Prince in his letter. "Initiatives 
such as safe needle disposal help to save lives."
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.