The number of drug-used needles discarded in Lethbridge has escalated to the point where the city is calling it a public health crisis. Many residents agree.
“At this current moment, the needle debris is a crisis,” said Allison Dunne, a volunteer for ARCHES most recent needle pick-up event.
This is a statement that has been on the minds of many in Lethbridge over the past few months due the growing number of drug users spurring increased demand for clean needles from the city’s Supervised Consumption Site.
“With more awareness brought to the needle debris crisis, we’ve really put importance on making a presence in the community and responding to the issue,” said Sherise Schlaht, an outreach education worker with ARCHES.
These accelerated and ongoing efforts work to combat safety hazards as well as promoting public education.
“We have a full-time position for needle pick-up and we have a peer support program within that,” Schlaht said. “But this issue is not ever going to go away and I think it’s something of our time.
“With appropriate education, it isn’t something that we need to fear.”
On Wednesday, volunteers joined ARCHES to help with its fourth Substance Use Debris Sweep.
After searching for hours and finding only a handful of needles, one volunteer believes current frustrations may be clouding a bigger issue.
“Addiction can take the best of lives,” Dunne said.
“When we are segregating these populations and then blaming them for the needle debris and saying it’s bad for business and such, I think it’s more than that — it’s a social crisis.”
Dunne added that keeping the public safe should also be a top priority.
“We need to look at it from a humanitarian perspective and we need to look at the people rather than the act,” she said.
“We need to get to the bottom of it, help the population, and help clean up Lethbridge while we’re at it.”
ARCHES estimates it will dispense more than 200,000 needles this year.
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