Anger over drug paraphernalia being dumped around Carrick
OVER 40 used hypodermic needles and drug-taking paraphernalia have been found dumped across a Northern Ireland town in the last three months, with 30 of the syringes close to schools.
The items were found in three locations across Carrickfergus on separate dates.
In the latest incident on Tuesday, around 10 needles were found lying on a public footpath just over a mile from Oakfield Primary and Carrickfergus Grammar School.
It came just weeks after around 20 hypodermic needles, wipes and other drug paraphernalia were discovered on the nearby Prospect Road, an area frequented by dog walkers and residents.
And around the beginning of September, about a dozen hypodermic needles were also discovered on the adjacent New Line in the town.
Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart said the spate of needle dumping was “totally reckless”.
He raised concerns of the health risks.
“It’s really irresponsible, and anybody who picks them up has the threat of contracting diseases like HIV or hepatitis,” he said.
“It’s concerning that it has been happening so frequently — people are doing it without considering the consequences. It’s close enough to local primary schools.”
The latest Carrick needle find came on the same day the Belfast Telegraph revealed the number of call-outs to remove drug paraphernalia from public areas in Belfast has surged by more than 1,470% in the last three years.
It also comes after a mum found a toilet floor in Belfast’s CastleCourt shopping centre littered with syringes and drugs paraphernalia.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said it was working to “assess the extent of the issue across the borough.”
A spokesman said: “The council is currently working with our partners to educate service users on safer methods of disposal and also to advise and provide guidance to our communities should they come across any type of drug paraphernalia.”
He added that the council can provide small plastic sharps boxes specifically designed for needle disposal.