Tool kit not alternative to safe needle pick up
Victoria News, 20 Feb 2009
re: Careful when picking up discarded needles (see below) in the 6 Feb edition:
The Victoria Downtown Business Association has partnered with AIDS Vancouver Island and the Downtown Clean and Safe Committee to have a "tool kit" available for those who have issues with inappropriately discarded needles around their properties, especially since the closure of the fixed site needle exchange.
Karen Dennis
The tool kit was developed with materials offered by Streetsafe in Edmonton. The tool kit is not an alternative for safe needle pick up and is not meant to provide those who use needles the freedom to leave their paraphernalia anywhere. It is meant for those who don't mind cleaning their areas and would like to do it safely.
If you read the tool kit, it will provide the information required on how to do that safely. It also provides contact information on agencies that deal with used syringes.
The tool kit provides education for adults and children who may come across an inappropriately discarded syringe that will keep them safe.
I also believe if someone were to approach a police officer, city worker etc. with a used syringe, it is highly unlikely to be perceived as a threat. The tool kit explains how to hold a used needle (if one chooses) in a safe manner that definitely will not be misconstrued as dangerous.
I encourage people to take a look at the tool kit. You can find it at the City of Victoria, Victoria Downtown Business Association or AIDS Vancouver Island, either online or at their locations.
Karen Dennis
Executive director, Victoria AIDS Resource & Community Service Society
Careful when picking up discarded needles
Re: Needle pick-up program
It has come to my attention that the Downtown Victoria Business Association is promoting a program to ask ordinary citizens to pick up discarded needles. It has been my experience that this can be dangerous in more ways than you might think.
If a person approaches a public servant such a police officer with a needle, it may be considered a deadly weapon and dealt with accordingly. A well-meaning citizen could get injured by being perceived as a threat.
Jean Berthelet, Victoria