Needle drop boxes placed in downtown Peterborough
Harm reduction measure for people who use drugs
New needle drop boxes have been placed downtown to increase community safety.
The four boxes were recently installed behind the Peterborough Public Library, one along the Millennium Trial, another on the eastern side of the Otonabee River, and a fourth one in front of the One Roof program, located at St. John’s Anglican Church at 99 Brock St.
These new boxes are in addition to the public needle boxes in front of the Canadian Mental Health Association — Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (CMHAHKPR) office at 466 George St. office and the fire station at 210 Sherbrooke St.
“Needle exchange programs are a proven harm reduction initiative that decrease the spread of illness and connects people who use drugs with health professionals,” explained Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, medical officer of health with Peterborough Public Health, in a release.
“We are pleased to see our community rally like this to promote safe needle disposal, as we need to work together to support those struggling with addiction issues while keeping our community safe.”
The initiative to expand the needle drop box program is a partnership of PARN — Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Peterborough Public Health, CMHA-HKPR and the City of Peterborough.
“Our experience tells us that people who use injection drugs want to dispose of their supplies safely,” Kim Dolan, executive director at PARN, stated in the release.
According to the health unit, a total of 400,000 to 450,000 needles are distributed by PARN each year to local residents. This past year, about 90 per cent of these needles have been returned to community agencies and pharmacies, the release states.
“Hundreds of people come through the doors of our agency every year to return used syringes. By placing these boxes at various points in the city, we will provide more options for people to return their used equipment and further reduce the instances when needles are found in public spaces,” Dolan stated.
Mayor-elect Diane Therrien also endorsed this community effort.
“The expanded needle drop box program will improve public safety and the safety of the individuals who are struggling with addiction,” Therrien stated.
If you find a used needle on public property, contact the city’s public works department at 705-745- 1386 or the Peterborough County OPP detachment at 705742-0401 for needles found in the county.
Property owners are responsible for any used needles found on private property.