Updated 10:36 a.m. on Aug. 31: Used syringes and other drug paraphernalia discarded in Little Britain Park in the Donovan were cleaned up shortly after being reported, the city has told Sudbury.com.
Yesterday, we reported on a cellphone video shot by Tyler Beaulne, who posted a 30-second clip to Facebook regarding needles and other drug paraphernalia discarded on a set of concrete steps in the park.
After a call was made to the city's 3-1-1 information line, Shannon Dowling, a spokesperson with the city, said Sudbury Action Centre for Youth's (SACY) Blue Coat Harm Reduction Team was dispatched to clean up the mess.
Anytime a member of the public finds drug paraphernalia on city property, the city asks that you phone 3-1-1 to report it so it can be cleaned up, Dowling said.
"We would like to thank the caller for reporting it to us so it can be addressed appropriately," she told Sudbury.com. "3-1-1 than contacted Sudbury Action Centre for Youth to respond. About an hour later, we were notified by SACY that the area had been cleaned up."
Original story
Residents of Greater Sudbury are concerned about the number of used needles they are finding throughout the city.
Although safe disposal bins are located in high traffic areas and much is being done to pick up needles that have been improperly discarded, some residents are concerned the efforts are just not enough.
On Wednesday, Tyler Beaulne uploaded a 30-second video showing a number of needles discarded right beside the playground located at Granite and Hope streets. In the video, tourniquets, used syringes and blood can be seen.
"I felt the need to share the video because I find the drug epidemic is only getting worse in our city and the fact that parents need to be aware because it’s not only in back alleyways," Beaulne said.
Earlier this month, the number of needles being found in an alleyway at 200 Larch St. was a great concern.
That property is currently being renovated by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Executive director Marian Quigley said in an email that the alleyway will be closed off in the near future.
"I think it's good that people take videos and show the community what it's like, because we do need as a community to be well educated around harm reduction," Quigley said at the time.
"We need to come together as a community because the problem wasn't created overnight."
Harm reduction refers to access to sterile supplies, availability of Naloxone kits and professional help, as well as the safe disposal of medications and needles.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is currently exploring options to fund a feasibility study and a needs assessment for a supervised injection site within the city. The community drug strategy is a partnership whereby almost 50 agencies work together to strategize and place tools within the community to address or decrease opiod-related harms.
For his part, Beaulne said local politicians need to make the crisis a bigger priority.
"Our city needs to be less concerned with (the) casino and arena and should be focusing our hard earned money on more important issues,” he said.
