A bottle of nyloxone

Image Credit: SUBMITTED// Tierney McIntosh

A Kamloops mother is wary to visit public spaces with her child after noticing drug paraphernalia on a public beach.

Parks and beaches have become the victim of drug user residue and are warding off members of the public who want to use the space for leisurely activities.

“You see drug use all over town now... just going to the beach and seeing paraphernalia with my own eyes and being with my dog and my toddler, I guess it was just shocking to see it,” Tierney McIntosh, Kamloops resident and mother said.

As a mother, McIntosh says she won’t bring her child to Henry Grube beach after finding syringe wrappings. When McIntosh saw the syringe packaging, she promptly told her child to put their shoes back on in fear of them stepping on a hidden needle buried in the sand. She also found an empty bottle of naloxone which is used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“I think it’s the most beautiful beach in Kamloops... but I’m really hesitant to go back with my kid.”

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If a needle is found on a beach or other municipal areas, it is the responsibility of the municipality to dispose of any needles or sharps.

Needle collection is first to be reported to the Kamloops customer care and patrol team as well as the overdose prevention team through ASK wellness. If they are not able to dispose of the needle or sharp right away, the call will be redirected to Kamloops community service officers who will dispose of it.

Depending on importance of the call, needles and other residue can take up to six hours to be disposed of.

“It’s not something that we actively have a team looking for but it’s something that we know is prevalent. Injection, inhalation and pipes that break are very well known to be used by drug users in our community,” city community service manager Will Beatty said.  "It’s something they’re encouraged to look for and if they do find it, they’re to act immediately.”

Residents are encouraged to describe landmarks surrounding the needles that have been found so the teams are able to locate and dispose of the needle or sharp with ease.

"Talk about a needle in a haystack... we'll do our best to locate it based on the geographical location they've given us," Beatty said.

To date this year there have been 40 calls reporting needles, sharps and other residue to be disposed of that may cause harm to the public.

Although residents may be intimidated by picking up a needle and getting pricked, the chances of contracting a disease like tetanus, HIV, or Hepatitis B or C is low, according to the City of Kamloops.

There is a map available on the Kamloops city website showing different locations of yellow sharps disposal bins if community members are comfortable enough to safely dispose of needles or sharps themselves.

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There are two overdose prevention sites provided as a resource in Kamloops for users to access if needed for safe injections.

Jamie Shinkewski, communications consultant at Interior Health says one of the sites had 812 visits in the month of June with only 30 of those visits being linked to consumption.

According to the BC government, police have power to enforce against illegal drug use in all public spaces, including beaches.

“The province is working with the federal government to make changes to the legality of possessing drugs in B.C. This will provide police with the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches,” the province said.

“I don’t feel safe right now walking around in my bare feet. I do have empathy and sympathy for people who are addicted to drugs but to have it affect daily life happenings... it’s just really sad,” said McIntosh.

If a needle or sharp needs to be reported for disposal, the Kamloops customer care team can be reached at 250-828-3409, or call the ASK wellness hotline from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 250-299-2262.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Bailey Zimmer or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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