Nasty risk with used needles

CONVINCING drug addicts whacked out on heroin, ice and God knows what else to remember to clean up after themselves is probably an impossible task.

With a rise in discarded needles left in public parks, it will unfortunately fall on parents to teach their kids to be vigilant and to never ever pick up a needle.

One time back in the 90s, when Kurt Cobain’s spectre of heroin chic was still being romanticised and smack abuse was at its peak, my mum took my brothers and me to play soccer at Endeavour Park in Manunda.

We were walking from the car when my little brother, probably only five years old, popped up with a syringe in his hand declaring he had “one of those things doctors use”.

He had no idea what an AIDS epidemic was, that a needle could be full of disease – he just thought he had a cool thing from the movies.

Fortunately, my mother managed to talk him into dropping it without incident, so she could dispose of it safely. Had she not been there, the result could have been very different.

The Department of Health says the likelihood of contracting hepatitis or HIV from a discarded used needle was very low, but not impossible.

It recommends that people who find a syringe contact the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353, their local council or if disposing of it themselves, to take great care.

It would be nice to think people would at least throw their spikes in the bin, but somebody shooting up in a public park probably has other things on their mind than altruism. Chris Calcino chris.calcino@news.com.au