Ensemble Moncton, formerly AIDS Moncton, presented to City Council yesterday to clear up what they called misinformation and fear around used needles.
Community Outreach Worker Abbi Ryder reports the risk of getting a disease from a discarded needle is very low.
“The estimated risk of HIV infection is about 0.3 per cent, HIV does not live in the air for more than a few minutes, and according to the Public Health Agency of Canada there has been no documented cases of HIV infections as a result of an accidental needle stick injury in the community,” says Ryder.
She continues saying “the risk of transmission in community setting is far less than in a healthcare setting due to the injury does not occur immediately after the needle use, the needle rarely contains fresh blood, a virus present has been exposed to drying and environmental temperatures,” says Ryder.
She says over the last six months they’ve given out 155,000 needles, with 136,000 returned – an 88 per cent return rate.
“I’m not denying that some of those needles that did not get returned did end up in the street, however I don’t believe that they all did,” says Ryder. “We have multiple clients from Elsipogtog [First Nation] who have a large drop box in their community, there are also sharps containers in almost every public washroom, and some clients bring their needles to pharmacies.”
Ryder says you have no need to be afraid of discarded needles as long as you are cautious.
