'6,770 Dirty Needles Found in Santa Cruz County In Past Two Years'

News release and images submitted by Take Back Santa Cruz’s Needles Solutions Team:

Take Back Santa Cruz’s Needles Solutions Team has been keeping its NIPS (Needles In Public Spaces) Log for the past two years, to document the ongoing epidemic of discarded needles in Santa Cruz County.

The Log contains reports of used needles found in public spaces by citizens, city workers and community groups.

STATISTICS

Total number of needles reported found from 12/8/12 – 12/8/14: 6,770.

Average number of needles found: 282 needles per month, 9 per day.

Needle Stick Victims: 7 (4 adults, 3 children) + at least one dog:

· A worker at a cemetery was stuck by a needle while performing grounds keeping duties;

· A second worker in the same cemetery was stuck by a needle 3 weeks later;

· A father walking with his family to have breakfast at a restaurant on Ocean Street stepped on a needle which pierced through his flip-flops. The family was financially devastated by the cost of anti-HIV drugs;

· A 12-year-old boy visiting from out of town was stuck at Cowell Beach when he found a needle and played with it;

· An 8-year-old boy who found and played with a needle at Seacliff Beach had to undergo HIV and hepatitis testing after his mother discovered the needle while she was doing laundry;

· A five-year-old girl was jumping in the sand at a birthday party at Blue Ball Park in Soquel when she came down on a needle with her bare foot;

· A man getting ready to go on his daily swim at Cowell Beach stepped on a needle buried in the sand;

· A dog named Varg stepped on a needle and shook it off his foot.

Regular Needle “Hot Spots” In Santa Cruz County:

· Neighborhood surrounding the County’s Syringe Services Program (aka “the Needle Exchange”

· Harvey West Park

· Cowell Beach

· San Lorenzo Park

· River Levee

· Evergreen Cemetery

· Seabright Beach

· Main Beach (in front of the Boardwalk)

· Lighthouse Field

· Fair Street

· Rodeo Gulch

· Cliff Street Stairs

WHERE ARE THE NEEDLES COMING FROM?

The County of Santa Cruz has refused to mark the needles it gives away. However, given the large number of needles reported found along with other items given away by the County’s Syringe Services Program (alcohol wipes, sterile water capsules, tie-offs, cookers, etc.), the Needles Solutions Team has concluded that many of the publicly discarded needles come from the County.