MORE INFORMATION ON USED NEEDLES

Dear editor,

Finding used needles that have been left behind can pose a lot of
troubling questions.

Are they a health risk? Are there people using needles to inject
illegal drugs in our community? And why are they being left around,
instead of being disposed of in a more responsible way? What if
children stumble upon them?

First, please know that abandoned needles do not pose a serious
health risk to anyone.

Several research studies have cited that most blood-borne viruses,
such as HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and Hepatitis C cannot live
on the outside of a needle long enough to cause an infection if
someone gets accidentally poked.

In fact, no one to date has ever been infected with HIV or Hepatitis
C through an abandoned needle poke injury.

There are others, however, such as tetanus, Hepatitis B, and many
bacterial infections that may occur after an accidental needle poke.

But, most of these can be easily treated and cured with the right
medications, and/or vaccinated against. Thus, the serious health risk
of an accidental needle stick injury is very, very low.

Second, yes - substance use and addiction is a condition that has
been with humanity for thousands of years. Addiction and illegal
drugs are often a really uncomfortable and unacceptable reality for
most folks. It is well known by social service providers that no
community on our Island, in the province, or across our country is
without its substance use challenges.

There are services in Port Hardy to help folks who may be struggling
with addiction to reduce the harm associated with their drug use, to
not only keep them healthier but also minimize the impact on the
whole community.

Lastly, it is not always clear why certain folks may leave their
needles out in the open instead of disposing of them more carefully.

Some of the reasons we have witnessed include such things as fear of
being found out by family and friends and being judged or rejected,
lack of housing or of apprehension by police.

AIDS Vancouver Island distributes between 2,000-5,000 needles per
month in the region, and nearly all of these needles are sent for
appropriate disposal as medical waste.

This indicates that most people using needles for injection in this
region are acting responsibly and safely in the disposal of their needles.

As for children, it is common for them to want to satisfy their
natural curiosity and explore something new they might find. This can
sometimes include needles they might find.

It's important for communities to teach children that needles are not
toys, with a calm, clear message.

If anyone would like more information on how to teach their kids
about this, please do not hesitate to contact us at (250) 949-0432.

Shane Thomas
AIDS Vancouver Island