Island Health is launching a campaign to encourage people who use needles to return them safely.

The campaign will remind people to B次元官网网址渕ake it your gig to return your rigB次元官网网址� and support local needle-recovery efforts.

The Island, like much of the rest of the province, is grappling with addiction and drug issues that have led to a provincial emergency being called in 2016 to try and deal with the growing crisis.

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The ongoing emergency is also seeing drug paraphernalia, particularly used needles, being discarded in parks, alleys and other public places. This has added to the urgency of the situation.

Island Health medical health officer Dr. Shannon Waters said that with discarded needle boxes now spread throughout communities at various locations, and designated places to pick up fresh needles and drop off used ones, efforts are being made to control the situation.

B次元官网网址淭he vast majority of needles are being returned after use, but not all of them,B次元官网网址� the Duncan-based Waters said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at getting the communityB次元官网网址檚 stakeholders together for a collaboration to further target discarded needles. We also want those who use substances to get involved and help keep their communities free of this debris.B次元官网网址�

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Waters said the provinceB次元官网网址檚 strategy to deal with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 drug crisis, which has seen hundreds of deaths over the last few years, has had successes.

She said there have been no deaths at any of the nine overdose prevention sites the province has opened on Vancouver Island since 2016 as part of its response to the opioid overdose emergency.

Waters added that the growing availability of naloxone kits to counteract and prevent overdoses has also had some positive results.

B次元官网网址淏ut there is a stigma around mental health and substance abuse, so many people choose to do their drugs alone, where no one is around to assist them if they overdose,B次元官网网址� Waters said.

B次元官网网址淲e need to collectively work on this problem together as a community.B次元官网网址�

A health bulletin released by Island Heath encourages drug users to use a fresh needle every time to reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and ensure the needles are safely disposed of when used.

More can be learned about harm reduction at

B次元官网网址淪ometimes discarded needles are found in public areas,B次元官网网址� the release stated.

B次元官网网址淪afe disposal of needles saves others from getting hurt accidentally. Fortunately, the risk of being infected by an accidental needle stick is rare.B次元官网网址�

The release also offers advice as to how to :

B次元官网网址� DonB次元官网网址檛 try to replace the cap on needles

B次元官网网址� DonB次元官网网址檛 snap, break or bend needles

B次元官网网址� Pick up needles with care; use work gloves and tongs if available

B次元官网网址� Hold needle point away from you

B次元官网网址� Put needle in a metal or hard plastic container with a lid

B次元官网网址� Replace cap on container securely and label it

B次元官网网址� Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water

B次元官网网址� Drop off the sealed container at your local public health unit or at a community drop box

For locations of needle disposal sites around the Island, see .

robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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