From: Ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: News & information
Date: 25 Aug 2008
Time: 11:56:20 +0200
Remote Name: 86.146.8.18
"Abandoned hypodermic needles in Llanelli have been labelled ''a loaded gun'' as children enjoy the summer holidays. The needles were discovered on a patch of grassland, in Clos Sant Paul, near Station Road, which is popular with children. Contact with used needles can greatly enhance the risk of contracting infections such as hepatitis and HIV.
"The council's head of street scene Phil Williams said: "We are extremely concerned about such items which are regularly found in parks, grassland and public places and are a serious health risk to our crews and members of the public. "Unfortunately, this is an increasing problem and is something we need to raise awareness of in the interests of public safety."
"Residents are being urged to dispose of needles and syringes in the correct manner. "They should not be put out with their normal household waste, and in no circumstances should they put in blue boxes or blue bags or ever flushed down toilets.
[more]
Lots of interesting points raised in this news report - this obvious risk of infection, and the similarly severe perceived threat of infection that may differ from the calculated risk but is nonetheless real, disgust and fear of crime in society, not forgetting the welfare of those who use illegal IV drugs.
The Carmarthenshire spokesperson, as reported, gives a list of Do Not's but not much in the way of positive advice. Indeed, on the Council web site that might be a first port of call for those seeking guidance is silent on this matter which is clearly unhelpful.
Lastly, an interesting comment to the news report from an individual in the US who mentions a new disposal device and who wants to "focus on solution because there is a light on the end of the tunnel." This "patented Class 3 medical device, which is capable to disintegrate syringe needles instantaneously and to sterilize the residual ashes, which than can be disposed into trash harmlessly" is well known to us all and can be useful in many situations.
But for drug abusers? Are they more likely to use this device than a sharps box? Will it offer any advantage to those tasked with needle retrieval and clean-up?
I think not. The problems, and solutions, are far more complex than that.