Duncan, B.C. sees big increase in discarded needles in parks, schools

A mental health and addictions worker in Duncan, B.C. says he's shocked at the increase in the number of discarded needles found in the Vancouver Island community.

James Tousignant, Cowichan Valley executive director for the Canadian Mental Health Association, said community concern is rising after a dramatic rise in the number of discarded needles discovered outdoors.

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"There are people who are reporting or finding them in the playground, in the school areas, the backs of businesses, down by the Cowichan River," Tousignanttold All Points West host Jason D'Souza.

Injust two four-hour shifts last weekend, workers with the association pickedup approximately 1,000 needles, he said.

"We know where the hot spots are. We go where we feel there is going to be needles. Sure enough, there were some."

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Harm reduction needed

Tousignant saidthe largest numbers of needles are found in out-of-the-way places where homeless people live but others don't usually go.

Still, he understands the community concerns.

"We've never seen it like [this] and I've been with the CMHA branch for five, six years now," he said. "It's amazing, actually, the number of needles we're finding and the number of people using."

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Tousignant saidimproved harm reduction for the Cowichan Valley mustbe part of the solution not just to address the discarded needles issue, but to grapple with the deaths caused by the overdose crisis.

He wants to see an overdose prevention site in the area where people can use injectable drugs in the presence of someone who can help them if theyoverdose.

Listen to the full interview:

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West