RESTAURANT FIGHTS DRUG USERS WITH BLACK LIGHTS IN WASHROOMS

A Saskatoon Tim Hortons location has installed so-called black lights
in washrooms in an attempt to deter injection drug use in the stalls.

Management for the store at 330 22nd St. West declined to comment, but
one worker confirmed the lights were installed in washroom stalls.

The worker said needles have been found in the washrooms.

The light makes it harder for drug users to fi nd a vein. The black
light makes white objects, such as the toilet and toilet paper, stand
out, but darker colours, such as the blue of a vein, are harder for
the eye to pick up. There is a regular light by the mirror so it is
not too diffi cult to use the washroom.

Rachel Douglas, spokesperson for Tim Hortons, said the light was
installed as "a health and safety issue for the staff and the
customers (and) it's not related to any incident.

"We became aware of the possibility of unhealthy activities (going
on)," she said. "And (we) wanted to be proactive.

"It's not a policy, it's not a systemwide thing," Douglas said. "It's
something that we work with our operators on a case-by-case basis if
they feel it's necessary." Douglas said black lights are not uncommon
in the restaurant industry.

Pat Lorje, city councillor for area, said after living in larger
centres such as Rotterdam in the Netherlands and San Francisco, she's
used to seeing black lights in restaurants, "but I'm a little taken
aback that it's come to Saskatoon.

"At the same time we do have to acknowledge that there is drug use
going on in the city," Lorje said. "We need to, I think, redouble our
efforts to drive the drug dealers out of the city." Lorje added she
has not heard from any businesses complaining about fi nding needles,
but residents have voiced their concern on the subject.

"It's a sensitive matter," she said, "because we here on the west side
are pretty proud of our homes and what we have accomplished and we
don't like the spotlight always shining on the negative stuff."
Measures such as black lights "gives out the defi nite message that
junkies are not wanted or tolerated," Lorje said.