Paraphernalia - is all swiys safe?

[laing1981]

hi there people................howz it going?.......cushty?.....greatstuff

swim lives in a city in Scotland and my streets fine but down an alleyway, into the next street, there is an awful lot of smack paraphernalia lying around, its like these idiotic users dont give a f**k about others, swim has two kids and the youngest one picks up anything! obviously swim worries. now swims quite open-minded but swim hopes addicts on here are careful with their stuff? swim notices swiys preach about the safety of drug use so hopefully swim wonders how swiys dispose of used paraphernalia? see article below.



Dundee 1000 needles shock
Hilltown Terrace, Dundee.

Druggies have dumped more than 1000 syringes on the streets of Dundee in the past year alone, according to shock figures obtained by the Tele (writes Graham Huband).The hypodermics — which pose a significant health hazard — have been found by community safety wardens at locations across the city over the past 12 months.
According to the stats, which were released by Dundee City Council under Freedom of Information legislation, the worst “blackspot” in the city was Hilltown Terrace and the associated multis, where wardens removed 107 needles in 34 separate finds over the past year — more than 10% of the entire recovery across Dundee.
The area of Dens Road, Arklay Street, Sibbald Street and Fairbairn Street was also highlighted as problematic — wardens made 49 visits and recovered 74 needles — while a further 18 needles were picked up from the Atholl Street, Kirk Street and Yeaman’s Lane area of Lochee.
The Tele visited Hilltown Terrace today and spoke to a number of residents about the problem and wider drug issues in the area.
The general consensus was there had been trouble with discarded needles in the past, but the situation had improved in recent months.
One tenant, who asked not to be named, said, “Drugs have always been a problem around here, especially in the multis.
“There was a problem last year with needles being chucked away, but I’ve not been aware of anything this year.
“It has been much better, but, when you’ve got people taking drugs, then you are going to get stuff like that happening.”
In total, community wardens recovered 1003 needles from Dundee’s streets during the year to March 31, 2009. In the previous 12 months, 788 “sharps” were uplifted and safely disposed of.
Just last week, the Tele told of the discovery of around 50 hypodermics dumped on a path between Mid Craigie and Whitfield.
On that occasion the needles — found along with sterile foil cups and citric acid wipes — were unused, but the find only served to heighten concern about what happens to the estimated 15,000 syringes handed out to drug users in the city last year.
Gareth Balmer, project manager of Addaction in Dundee which provides drug and alcohol treatment services, said the increase in syringes being found on the street was indicative of the city’s growing problem with heroin abuse.
He said, “Since we opened, we have seen an increase in injecting drug users as compared to those who smoke heroin.
“It is a really difficult issue, as there is a hard balance to be had between dispensing clean injecting equipment and getting returns.”
Mr Balmer said providing syringes to drug users, which is done through a needle exchange service in Dundee, was a responsible practice, but acknowledged it was not perfect.
He added, “The goal is that we don’t have people sharing injection equipment and the alternate goal is for nobody to be using a syringe more than once.
“To achieve that we need to give out a lot of syringes.”
Dundee’s environment services convener, Councillor Jimmy Black, said he was concerned about the health and safety hazards posed by discarded needles and would be consulting with senior council officials to see if more could be done to tackle the problem.
He said, “I am extremely concerned to hear about this number of needles being found in the streets and I am also concerned about the big increase between this year and last year.
“The reason we know about this is our community safety wardens and police have been doing their best to pick up the needles and ensure the streets are clean and safe.
“I wish drug users were more responsible about the way they dispose of their used needles, but the fact is that they are not and we need to do what we can to make it easier for them to behave responsibly.
“Now these figures have been drawn to my attention, I will be consulting with the director of waste management and also the director of environmental health to discuss what more we can do to make the streets safer. If you see a used needle in the street, don’t touch it or try to pick it up. Let the community safety wardens know about it and they will come out and get it as it is better to ensure they are handled safely.
“It is also really important to warn children not to pick up any needles they find in the street as there is a real danger of infection.”
SAFETY FIRST ADVICE FOR PUBLIC
Officials in Angus and Fife also urged the public to report discarded needles to authorities rather than attempt to remove them themselves.
A spokesperson for Angus Council said, “In Angus, we have been contacted the public on 46 occasions in the last quarter (168 times in last year), to ask for disposal of needles and other drug-related objects.
“Items found can be reported to Angus Council’s ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778. The council will arrange for safe and prompt disposal of these items.”
While Fife Council did not have the actual number of needles picked up readily available, figures which were at hand revealed there were 55 requests in relation to the removal of needles from a public place made to environmental services in central Fife between January 1 and April 30 this year.
A further 27 cases were brought to light in the west of the region, although there were no cases identified in the east of the Kingdom in the same period.
Martin Kingham, operations team leader, encouraged members of the public who spotted any needles left lying around to report it to the council as soon as possible.
“From a Fife perspective, members of the public can report needles to environmental services,” he stressed.
“One of our teams will respond within two hours of receiving the request and this service is available 24 hours a day. In the interests of safety, members of the public should not attempt to remove needles themselves.”
PLAN FOR EAST END
Providing support for families affected by drug abuse and encouraging young and old to take part in healthy living activities are among the issues highlighted in a community plan for Dundee’s East End council ward, (writes Brian Allison, local government reporter).
Local community plans have been developed for all eight city council wards, in line with a duty placed on local authorities by central government.
The first plans started in 2004 and the second generation, which will be in force until 2011, have now been drawn up in consultation with local residents.
The East End community planning partnership area takes in Linlathen, Mid Craigie, Douglas, Craigie, Craigiebank, Craigiebarns and Gotterstone.
Under the health and care banner, the plan seeks to;
Ensure local families affected by drug misuse have access to the appropriate forms of support;
Develop a range of opportunities for local residents to take part in activities that promote good health;
Increase availability of health infor-mation to secondary school pupils as well as encouraging them to get involved in healthy living activities.
Reducing the incidence of litter, rubbish, graffiti and fly-tipping is among the priorities listed for improving the environment. It is also intended to support funding bids to enhance the use of the Dighty area for recreational and educational purposes.
Establishing the extent to which youth disorder is an issue in the east end and developing responses is one of the community safety priorities, along with diversionary youth work activities aimed at keeping young people out of trouble, with particular reference to the illegal use of motor bikes.
Implementing home safety checks for vulnerable residents is also on the agenda.
In terms of lifelong learning, the plan envisages developing an adult guidance service to help people access further and higher education as well as work and training opportunities. The work and enterprise remit will include providing unemployed young people with opportunities to become involved in activities which will lead to volunteering or employment. Consultation on the plan included postal and community safety surveys, meetings with community groups, and speaking to over 300 young people in the area.