Needle Disposal guide set to help tackle opioid crisis

Aug 27, 2018 | 11:27 AM

A needle disposal guide has been created by the City of Grande Prairie in response to the opioid crisis.

Mayor Bill Given says the Grande Prairie Public School Board has also created a procedure to deal with needles.

“After hearing about the issue and thinking about it and the impact on their school properties, they took it back and developed a workplace safety procedure to use in their organization that they are willing to share with the other school boards and any other businesses that may like to have a workplace procedure around handling sharps and needles.”

Given adds this is an ongoing issue in Grande Prairie.

“We felt it was really important for those who wanted to be involved in responding that they knew how to handle needles. This is something which can be scary or intimidating, but there are best practices which are available and so to capture them all in one place was really helpful.”

The guide has a break down of what to do if you come across a needle, and what items you need to have if you are willing to help clean up.

Among the six items recommended in the city’s needle disposal kit are a bag, gloves, and a non-breakable puncture-proof container.

by Jeromy Corrigan