Pubdate: Fri, 04 Jul 2014
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Johanna Weidner
Page: B4

PUBLIC AT LITTLE RISK OF DISCARDED NEEDLES

Two-thirds of syringes handed out through program not returned, Region
of Waterloo Public Health says

WATERLOO REGION - The region's head of infectious disease says there's
little risk someone in the community will accidentally jab themselves
with a needle tossed away by a drug user and become ill.

A recent report by Region of Waterloo Public Health noted nearly
307,500 syringes were handed out through their needle syringe program
and just under 103,200 - about a third - were returned. Going back to
2009, nearly 441,400 of the free needles given out over five years
were not returned.

"You can expect that not all the needles will come back. We encourage
people to bring them back," said Karen Quigley-Hobbs, director of
infectious disease, dental and sexual health.

However, she said, the general public should not be concerned about
wayward needles littering the region's parks and neighbourhoods.

"With the information we have at this time, I would say no,"
Quigley-Hobbs said.

She said public health has not heard from municipalities, bylaw
enforcement or community partners about an increase in reports of
needles found in the community.

And Quigley-Hobbs has never seen a local report of infectious disease
transmission due to an accidental needle puncture from a discarded
needle.

Public health is working with local cities and social services to add
more needle disposal units around the region.

"The more containers we have for disposal =C2=85 the less risk you have o
f
finding them on the ground," Quigley-Hobbs said.

The bins are already in many municipal buildings, pharmacies and other
public locations. Public health's needle program sites accept syringes
for safe disposal, while those disposed of elsewhere would not be
counted among those returned.

Public health provides the needles through its harm-reduction program,
which aims to lower the adverse effects of drug use and is funded by
the province. People are not required to return needles to get new
sterile ones.

Beyond providing people with clean equipment to reduce the risk of
blood-borne infections from drug use, the needle program connects them
with essential services in the community - which can be life-saving
for those on the fringes of society. "It is an important contact with
them for healthcare providers," Quigley-Hobbs said.

She encourages anyone who finds a discarded needle to contact their
local government or public health office to have someone trained in
safe disposal come and remove it. And, she said, "if people are seeing
an increase, then they should be calling their municipality and
letting them know."
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MAP posted-by: Matt