Northern Health says over 90 Percent of Used Needles Recovered
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PRINCE GEORGE – According to Northern Health over 90 percent of the needles it distributes through the local exchange come back.
3rd and George is the site of the Needle Exchange or Harm Reduction Centre where users can access clean needles, along with a variety of other health services.
Medical Health Officer Dr Andrew Gray says it isn’t mandatory that a needle be taken in when a new one is acquired. “People who come in and who have an addiction who need clean needles to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and other infections like that they can have those needles based on their needs and they’re encouraged and we try to make it as easy as possible to bring those needles back when they’re used,” says Gray.
Prince George isn’t the only city dealing with discarded sharps, just last month a Kamloops area group began offering a nickel for each sharp returned to them, a private venture funded by community donations.
Corporal Craig Douglass says the RCMP continues to target street level drug use in the downtown core, and members try to get those dealing with drug addiction the resources needed.
