NEEDLE NUISANCE

Disposal boxes a great idea, says business owner... but has
complaints

It's a harm reduction program that deserves a place in the community,
but finding locations for needle disposal boxes for intravenous drug
users has its challenges too.

Grande Prairie's first disposal box was bolted in behind the downtown
building Travelhandlers and the North West Company share in mid-July.

Along with the small quantity of used needles disposed in the box so
far, it has also collected its first complaints.

Neighbouring business owner Peggy Dauncey of The Pepper Pot says she
is definitely disturbed when she finds used needles on the ground
around the box.

The back door to her restaurant is only steps away from the disposal
box.

The two needles she found Wednesday morning weren't a surprise and
that's the problem, Dauncey said.

"It's not the first time. All it takes is for one child or adult to
pick it up (improperly) and what happens to them," she said.

The needle disposal boxes are "absolutely a wonderful idea," but they
need to be in more suitable locations, she said.

"I've nothing against it whatsoever... it's just in the wrong place,"
Dauncey said, noting she was never consulted before the box was placed.

She has asked the HIV North Society, which established the project
with other community health and social agency partners, to move the
box, but has been told it's going to stay where it is, Dauncey said.

Miranda Brokelman works as a waitress at The Pepper Pot and lives next
door in an upstairs suite.

Since the disposal box has been in place she's found empty needle
packages, condom wrappers and sometimes half-clad men on her back stairs.

"It's stuff I never saw before. I've kicked people out (off the
stairs) four, five times in the last month," she said.

HIV North Society executive director Brenda Moore said she's tried to
deal with the concerns the Daunceys have raised.

"They are our only complaint, I haven't heard from anyone else," she
said.

A sign has been posted on the disposal box providing information to
people who find needles on the ground about how to handle them, she
said.

She has also tried to allay concerns that the boxes create a place for
drug users to gather.

"(The Daunceys felt) drug users are not responsible, they would not
use the box, but because the box is there they are going to congregate
in the back alley and use beside the box, then throw (the needles) on
the ground.

"That's not rational in my mind. (I.V. drug users) are not going to
stand in the back alley on a busy street and use... because there is a
box there and then not use the box," Moore said.

"That is not anything we have seen a history of in other locations
where there have been boxes," she said.

It is possible to move the disposal box a few metres away from The
Pepper Pot's back door, but because it's fastened to the ground it
might be some time before they do that, she said.

In the meantime, the project partners, a group calling itself
Community Safe Streets, is working through plans to deploy nine more
disposal boxes throughout the city.

"We're hoping that is two to four weeks away. I'm waiting to hear back
on approval for sites from the city and private business owners and as
soon as I have that they will be out all over the city, not just
downtown," she said.

A city-wide awareness campaign will follow once the other nine boxes
are placed, she said.

The society is also more than happy to field any concerns people have
about the program, she said.

"We'd certainly love to have those conversations... and talk about
other programs that have existed and how they've been operated and how
they've gone and why we think there is a need in this community," Moore said.

The project hasn't been strongly promoted yet and the first disposal
box has collected only a small quantity of used needles so far, she
said.

"At this point, it is not a hot spot by any means," she
said.

David Biltek owns the building the disposal box sits
behind.

A former city alderman and recent member of the South Peace South
Planning Council, Biltek said he volunteered the site when he heard
about the project.

"It seemed like the right thing to do," Biltek said.

He saw the two needles on the ground near the box Wednesday, but
hasn't noticed any other problems, he said.