Pubdate: Thu, 11 Aug 2016
Source: Cochrane Eagle (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Cochrane Eagle
Contact:  http://www.cochraneeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3992
Author: Lindsay Seewalt

NEEDLES, SYRINGES FOUND IN PUBLIC PARK SPACE

It's a rare occurrence for Cochrane park users to stumble across 
strewn syringes and hypodermic needles in a public area.

Needless to say, it created concern for soccer player Lucy Lovelock 
when she came across a scattered pile of such paraphernalia in the 
soccer field parking lot in community of GlenEagles the evening of Aug. 2.

"I have no issues with what people do in their private lives, but it 
concerns me to find this in a public area used by kids all the time," 
said the mother of two, who contacted Cochrane Fire Services to 
dispose of the mess.

"It's sad, because I hadn't yet seen that in Cochrane."

According to Cochrane RCMP Sgt. White and the Cochrane Community 
Health Centre (CCHC), reports of findings of needles and syringes are 
"very rare" in Cochrane.

People who come across drug paraphernalia and wish to dispose of it 
themselves, are advised by RCMP to exercise caution, use gloves and 
dispose of the waste at a safe needle disposal unit - located inside 
any pharmacy or the RCMP detachment; the CCHC does not have a safe 
disposal unit for public use and will direct people to a pharmacy.

According to Laurie Drukier, spokesperson for the Town of Cochrane, 
the town has not yet been approached about providing a needle disposal site.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom