Prince Albert health region tries new tactic to get used needles off streets
The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) is changing how it hands needles out in an effort to get more of them off the street.
“We had quite a large number of people who never brought anything back in,” said Brett Enns, vice-president of primary and community care with the PAPHR.
Around 200 people, representing 28 per cent of those who use the needle exchange at Access Place, never returned their used equipment.
“We tried to continue to educate folks and we tried to ask them to just pick up a couple. We don’t want a one-for-one exchange, and it’s never going to be that, ‘but if you can do your part and bring a few in as you come that would be helpful and that would help with our program,’” Enns said.