By Armchair Mayor

Addicts’ safety shouldn’t come ahead of general public’s

May 2, 2018 | 5:28 AM

KAMLOOPS — When delegates to the annual B.C. Chamber of Commerce convention get together in Kamloops later this month, they’ll have plenty of ideas on how to further the interests of business.

A great many of them will have to do with taxation and how businesses should pay less of it.

But B.C.’s businesses are concerned about social issues, as well. The Kamloops chamber will put forward a resolution proposing a way to tackle the growing problem of discarded needles on city streets and in parks and public washrooms.

It’s a serious health hazard.

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The opioid crisis and the emphasis on harm reduction have led to a dramatic increase in the number of needles handed out to addicts. As the chamber points out, needle-exchange services have become needle-distribution services — addicts can ask for dozens of them if they want.

Health authorities are of the view that this reduces the likelihood of dirty needles being re-used, but something must be done about the proliferation of discarded needs.

Some people propose the use of retractable needles, in which the needle withdraws into the syringe after injection. The counter argument is that they’re more expensive than the regular ones, and there’s no guarantee addicts will use them properly.

Another partial solution is to increase needle disposal bins in public parks and buildings, which the City has been doing over the past few months. Expanding pickup programs would also make a big difference.

Supported by the North Shore Business Association, ASK Wellness, and local governments, the Kamloops chamber’s proposal is to give the agencies that distribute needles the discretion to limit the numbers based on individual cases. Something has to be done to fix the problem, and the chamber’s idea is a good compromise between setting limits and the free-for-all currently on the go.

The health and safety of drug addicts is important, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the health and safety of the general public.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.