By Ryan Cavani

Needle exchange draws criticism from downtown business owners

Feb 27, 2019 | 2:07 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The downtown needle exchange was started with the hopes of curbing the spread of diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS as well as reducing the number of needles left lying around the downtown area.

The exchange has stirred up a large amount of debate since it’s proposal and now several years since its inception, it is still an issue for downtown business owners. 

The needle exchange is just one part of a harm reduction system aimed at keeping drug users alive in addition to not tying up medical services for the treatment of preventable diseases.

Users of the needle exchange are not required to bring in used needles for fresh ones and for Northern Health, the facility has shown positive results. In 2018 500,000 needles were given back and according to Northern Health, 90% were returned to the facility.

Fighting and other predatory behaviour is a concern for downtown business owners who feel that some of the issues associated with the needle exchange could be avoided if the facility was in a different location.

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Northern Health is considering moving the needle exchange to another location, but the need to keep the facility close to other services is making the search difficult.