The Superior Points Harm Reduction Program is in full spring as melted snow reveals more discard needles.
Rick Thompson, who works at Superior Points – a needle exchange program meant to curb blood borne diseases -- said the amount of needles found hasn’t changed much since last year but they seem to be getting more calls.
He said it was probably because the program is getting more recognition.
The program distributes about 70,000 needles a month and there are five needle disposal bins in the south core of the city, one in the north end and one in the east end.
But sometimes people don’t dispose of the needles properly and they remain discarded on the ground.
Thompson said they often go on patrol areas that they receive regular calls about but with the melting snow, more needles are revealing themselves.
“Unfortunately, with the spring thaw we do tend to see an increase in discarded needles and it takes two or three weeks to catch up and get the bulk of them cleaned up,” Thompson said.
“A large part of what we do is respond to people who find needles outside and we’ll go clean up even if it is only one needle. Or we give instructions on how to clean up.”
Catching anything from a publicly discarded needle is extremely low, he said.
Thompson said it is difficult to measure the drug addiction problem in the city but they have noticed they are distributing more needles out to people.
Harm reduction programs across the province have also seen this increase, he added.
“We are aware that this city as well as other cities are having challenges,” he said. “From time to time we will see areas increase but generally it’s transitional. We will see (needles) show up there for a while and then it will move to an area. It is a city wide issue so we can’t pick on one neighbourhood and say it all happens here.”
Thompson said needle exchange is only part of an overall solution to the needle problem. Other programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional treatment programs are all essentially as well.
Thunder Bay Police Chief J.P. Levesque said there’s been a large increase of needles that police have been running into.
He said he’s concerned that someone may accidently step on a needle and hurt themselves.
Levesque said it’s pretty clear that needles end up on the street and added Superior Points isn’t a true needle exchange.
“It’s a huge concern of ours and it is something we need to take better control over,” Levesque said.
“I understand the issue with addictions and I’m not opposed to harm reduction by any means but I’d certainly like to see this become more of an exchange program because I don’t really think it is. I think they are giving out needles with no expectation of getting them back.”
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Unit wanted to remind the public be careful when handling discarded or used needles.
The health unit advised people use tongs or pliers when picking up a needle, store it in a hard plastic container like a peanut butter jar and then drop it off at any yellow disposal bin.
