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Local organizations take first steps in addressing issues with discarded needles

Local organizations have started working towards a solution about the issue of discarded needles in Bancroft.

A Bancroft Community Safety and Well-Being Committee meeting was held Friday morning, and involved a number of local groups in touch with the issue, along with town staff and councillors.

Bancroft’s Public Works Manager Perry Kelly says staff continues to find needles at a number of different places in town. While hot spots seem to change, some include Millennium, Riverside, and Eagles Nest parks. Bancroft OPP Acting Detachment Commander Jeff McKinnon also says police have been finding discarded needles.

Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health provides needle disposal boxes in Bancroft, along with exchange programs. However, Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program Manager Stephanie McFaul says the health unit has seen an increase in the number of needles being used in the area, and a decline in how many are brought back for exchange.

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Potential solutions to the problem were put forward during the meeting. One of these, which the committee chose to move forward with, is holding consultations with drug users. North Hastings Community Trust will be spearheading the consultations. Director Jane Kali says this is an important first step.

Another potential solution is to introduce safe injection sites in Bancroft in the future. Stephanie McFaul says, because of the process involved in introducing these sites, it could take some time.

However, one agency has expressed concerns that drug users wouldn’t go to the safe injection sites because of the stigma around them.

While supporting the idea of safe injection sites, Councillor Mary Kavanagh says it may also be in the town’s best interest to lock public washroom doors at night. She also suggests educating youth about what to do if they come across needles in the community.

The possibility of introducing smaller, portable needle disposal boxes to drug users was also discussed as an option.

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