SAFER NEEDLES FOR CITY JUNKIES?

Committee To Push For Retractable Syringes

When Randy Dowell visits parks in his Lowertown neighbourhood, he is
never shocked to find the occasional bag of marijuana or broken beer
bottle.

But when the concerned father found containers filled with used
needles, he realized the line had been crossed.

"It's horrible," said Dowell. "If a kid gets poked with one of these,
who takes responsibility?"

Experiences like Dowell's encouraged a group of mothers, fathers and
neighbours to form the Community Advisory Committee on Syringe Program
in an effort to find a safer solution to Ottawa's needle problem.

After four years of searching, the group finally discovered a
retractable syringe that makes disposal safer. They plan to pitch the
needle to the city's health department this week.

"It wasn't just for our children, it was for our police, our
sanitation workers, construction workers, paramedics," said Angela
Ierullo, a member of the committee. "The list kept going on as to who
would benefit from a safety syringe."

The needle withdraws into the body of the syringe, meaning that it
cannot be reused and will not prick those who unwillingly come in
contact with the unsanitized points.

"The focus has been on the drug user and there hasn't been much on
reducing public harm, and that's where we're coming from," said Ottawa
Coun. Shawn Little, who pledges to support a needle pilot project if
the health department agrees.

Little, and members of the committee, hope the department will agree
to implement them in the city's syringe distribution program -- the
city's response to provincial regulations that require municipalities
to provide clean needles to drug users.

"I think what we are trying to say is if it is mandated by the
province, we can't change that right now, it's law," Ierullo said.
"But if you have to provide clean needles, we have to provide clean
and safe needles."

For parents like Dowell, there are no alternatives.

"I definitely believe the city has to use these," he said. "They need
to use these."