RISE IN NEEDLES DISCARDED IN CITY

Melrose - An increasing number of used hypodermic needles have been
found on Melrose sidewalks, streets and parking lots over the past
two months, according to a Free Press analysis of the weekly police log.

Since Feb. 1, there have been eight reports to the Melrose Police
Department of people finding discarded needles. In one case, students
found a needle in the Knoll parking lot across from the high school
and middle school campus.

In Sep. 2006, Massachusetts became the 48th state in the nation to
decriminalize needle possession and offer over-the-counter sales of
needles in an effort to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases
such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

While people with medical issues such as diabetes often use needles
for their own care, the primary targets of the needle legalization
are intravenous drug users. Proponents say the non-prescription
needle sales make it easier for drug users to obtain clean needles,
thus lowering the spread of HIV, Hepaptitis C and other blood-borne diseases.

Despite the increased incidence of discarded needles reported to
police, Dr. Mark Mahnfeldt, director of emergency services for
Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, said he has not seen a correlation in
increased patient volume relating to legal or illegal needle use in
the emergency room since the state decriminalized needle possession.

"I'll be honest with you, I haven't seen a change . in the last
several months I've seen one time when we pulled a fair amount of
needles off someone," Mahnfeldt said.

Melrose Police Det. Sgt. Barry Campbell said the increase in needles
found in public areas in the city is not necessarily indicative of an
increase in drug use in the city, and may in fact be more of a seasonal issue.

"I think at this time of the year, you're finding more because
they're being uncovered when the snow melts," Campbell said. "Anybody
can be driving down the street . and throw their needles out the window."

However, Campbell added, "I don't know why they throw them out in the
street anymore, because it's not illegal to possess them."

All Melrose police cruisers are equipped with cigar-box-shaped
containers that are used by officers for retrieving needles, Campbell
said. The contained needles are then brought back to the police
station, placed in a 'sharps' container and eventually transported to
a state lab for processing.

Repeated attempts to reach local pharmacists for comment were not
successful by press deadline.

Melrose hoping for 24-hour drop-off kiosk

According to state Department of Public Health's Web site,
mass.gov/dph, there are 78 separate needle drop-off sites in the
state as of this month, including the Melrose Health Department in
City Hall, which accepted needles for drop-off before the state law
was passed in 2006.

Ruth Clay, Melrose health department director, said there are no
costs associated with the drop-off. Those disposing of needles are
asked to bring them in placed in a hard container - either a
dedicated 'sharps' container, a coffee can or an empty detergent
bottle with the top taped on - and drop them off during the
department's regular office hours.

"It [the drop-off box] does get used on a frequent basis," Clay said.
"We're actually in the process of applying for a grant [from the
state Department of Public Health] for a 'sharps' container kiosk
that we would install outside of City Hall. That way it would be more
accessible to people, because our hours are rather limited, and
people would be able to drop them off 24/7."

The state Department of Public Health installed similar kiosks at
Haverhill, Lynn and Revere's health departments last November to
address the lack of needle drop-off sites in northern Massachusetts.

While Middlesex County has 11 drop-off sites, four alone are in
Arlington and another two are in Marlborough. Melrose's only site is
the one at the health department. In neighboring Essex County, there
are now eight drop-off sites.

Clay said most people who drop off needles at Melrose City Hall are
either insulin users being treated for diabetes or are undergoing
fertility treatments.

"We do take their name and address in case there's a needle stick
[someone pricked by a used needle] down the line, but that
information isn't given to anybody," she said. "If we get the kiosk,
people will be able to drop needles any time, any day," she said,
with no questions asked.

Clay would not say how the health department disposes of the needles,
only saying they do so "legally." Campbell said the police department
brings their needles to a state-run lab in Jamaica Plain, but said as
of last year, the contents of the needles are not investigated.

"They will not test needles anymore. They won't do, it's their policy
now," he said.

Five heroin arrests in last two months

While Melrose Police Det. Sgt. Barry Campbell said the increased
number of needles found in public areas is not necessarily a sign of
increased drug use in Melrose, since Feb. 1 there have been five
arrests in the city for heroin possession, with two of those arrests
involving residents of the city.

"I'm not going to go out on a limb and say we don't have any drug
dealers in Melrose," Campbell said, prefacing his explanation that
most of the information the police department receives points towards
people from outside Melrose receiving illegal intravenous drugs from
suppliers also located outside of the city - but all taking place in Melrose.

Campbell cited the recent example of a mother and son from Billerica
who were arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 27 near the Wyoming Hill MBTA
station for possession of heroin - and for injecting the drugs while
in their car in Melrose.

Campbell said when questioned, they told police that they typically
come to Melrose and call their dealer from their car; the dealer then
tells them where to meet - in this case, Melrose.

A week and a half later, another man was arrested in the Wyoming Hill
area for possession of heroin.

"Obviously, it's a place that we need to watch," Campbell said.