We are finally speaking out. We have spoken to many other concerned members of our community, in Duncan, North Cowichan, and the CVRD, we all share the same sentiment: We are frustrated about a very small percentage of our community having a huge negative impact on the safety and overall atmosphere of our Valley.
The free needle program needs revamping. Solutions need to be implemented that still give dignity to the people who need help but, at the same time, do not negatively affect the safety of our children, economics of our businesses, and the beauty of our towns.
We all know the stories of countless needles being found daily in playgrounds, preschools, skate parks, down sewer manholes, storm drains, roadside ditches and even strewn into our beautiful Cowichan River.
We are putting our municipal workers, our first responders, our daycare, our school staff and children at risk. With needles recently being found on the T-ball fields, our community volunteers are not only being put at risk but are also being burdened with the responsibility of ensuring hazard free playing areas.
Our question is where is the accountability for the free needles being handed out? We are bewildered that we have experts in mental health endorsing programs which have no effective plan for public safety due to the low incidence of needle recovery. Can we expect people, who are addicts, to be responsible when they are “high” to properly dispose of their needles?
We are urging for an immediate stop to the free needle program and instead we suggest the implementation of a needle exchange program - in order to get a needle one must bring a needle back; that alone would greatly increase the needle recovery rate.
To clean up the streets quickly, how about a short term (up to one month) program, where grocery coupons (or the like) could be handed out for discarded needles being returned (ie. five needles per coupon) It might be an unconventional method of retrieving discarded needles. However the “needle exchange clients” are the ones who best know where the needles were used and carelessly discarded.
Our programs have been unsuccessful in the recovery of the free needles handed out. It has led to a huge negative impact in our community. We need change; it is time for action from the quiet majority. Let’s bring constructive, proactive ideas and solutions to the people who can implement the change needed to reverse this crisis.
Russell and Christine Cumpstone
Duncan