New needle disposal information line

Needle Safe Saskatoon announced a new information line on Friday to provide people with information on how to properly dispose of needles. “One of the things we’ve been hearing is that people often don’t know what to do or who to call when they find a loose needle on the ground,” says Dr. Jonmark Opondo, Chairperson of Needle Safe Saskatoon.

The new information line will give residents different options for safely disposing needles to create cleaner and safer communities including how to access a clean-up kit and drop box locations around the City.

The new Needle Safety and Disposal Information Line can be reached at 655-4444.

This doesn’t mean that Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services will no longer pick up needles. The department will continue “to pick up needles throughout the City as part of our mandate to provide protection services,” states Assistant Chief Dan Paulson.

In 2009, Needle Safe Saskatoon had a 55 per-cent drop in the number of improperly discarded needles found in Saskatoon. 25,107 loose needles were collected in 2008 compared to 11,216 in 2009. Part of the drop is attributed to increased public awareness, the addition of two more needle exchanges in the city and additional drop boxes.

Needle Safe Saskatoon is a partnership between the Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services and a number of other community partners.

Background

Community members who call 655-4444 are provided with information about six options:

Needle Safe Community Drop Boxes

20 Locations

9 Saskatoon Fire Halls

# 1 Station,125 Idylwyld Dr. South

# 2 Station, 3111 Diefenbaker Drive

# 3 Station, 1906 York Avenue

# 4 Station, 2106 Faithful Avenue

# 5 Station, 421 Central Avenue

# 6 Station, 3309 Taylor Street East

# 7 Station, 3550 Wanuskewin Rd.

# 9 Station, 870 Attridge Drive

Staff Development Center, 116 Avenue W South

3 City Park Locations

Optimist Park, Avenue J South & 19th Street

Victoria Park, Avenue H & 15th Street

Kinsmen Park, Spadina Crescent & 25th Street

3 Community Sites

Indian & Métis Friendship Centre, 168 Wall Street

Walpole Avenue, Walpole Avenue & 8th Street

7-Eleven, 22nd Street and Avenue P

5 Health Region Sites

St. Paul’s Hospital, 1702 20th Street West

Public Health Services. Idylwyld Centre. 310 Idylwyld Drive North

Public Health Services, North Health Centre, 100 – 227 Primrose Drive

Public Health Services, South East Health Centre, 3006 Taylor Street East

Mental Health & Addictions Services – Larson House, 201 Avenue O South

(Brief Social Detox)