WARNING ISSUED ABOUT DISCARDED SYRINGES AFTER 9-YEAR-OLD BOY PRICKED

NEW WATERFORD -- A nine-year-old boy was pricked by the tip of a used
needle when he and a friend stumbled across a couple of dozen
syringes left behind in a park and picked them up.

Cape Breton Regional Police said the needles are believed to have
been left by drug users who inject a variety of drugs such as
cocaine, heroin or take pills like the powerful painkiller OxyContin.

"Parents took him to the hospital Wednesday for a tetanus shot, and
to draw blood to be screened for anything adverse in his blood,"
Const. Gary Fraser said of the boy.

"We're getting other calls, reports of other needles found in
Colliery Lands Park and other areas of town."

Police suspect, given recent Crime Stoppers tips, that the chronic
drug users and pushers hanging around in the downtown core are responsible.

"We believe they're selling the drugs and they're injecting and
dropping the needles right where they injected and walking away,"
Const. Fraser said.

Police are warning the public to not touch any syringes and advising
them to call police.

"Be aware and educate your children to not pick up a needle," he said.

"(This boy) could be going through a barrage of injections for the
new few months. We don't know."

In the meantime, police are beginning to step up patrols, including
by adding some on foot, in problem areas.

Vandalism in the downtown cores of New Waterford and Glace Bay is
costing thousands. Earlier this week, a fight and evidence of
drinking and drug use under Main Street's bridge over Renwick Brook
in downtown Glace Bay prompted police to put more officers on foot patrol.