NEEDLE BURSTS NV PARENT'S BUBBLE

A North Vancouver mom is raising concerns over drug use in her
neighbourhood after her three-year-old daughter found a used syringe
at a Lynn Valley bus stop.

Amanda McRobbie said she was waiting with her toddler at the corner of
Lynn Valley Road and Molly Nye Way Tuesday evening when the little
girl presented her with the dirty needle.

"She said, 'Look, Mommy, a pencil,'" said McRobbie. "I freaked
out."

The syringe was uncapped and still contained blood. And it was not the
type used for insulin injections, she added.

McRobbie swatted the needle out of her daughter's hand, but did not
have time to do more before the bus arrived. When she returned later,
it was gone.

"I just felt so shocked and appalled. I never thought I'd find
something like that in my community," she said.

"If she had pricked herself and got some sort of disease from it. . .
. There are all these 'what-ifs.'"

McRobbie wants other parents to be aware of the danger.

"Maybe if other people know, they'll take a look around before they
let their children play freely (here)," she said.