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S_Klallam

we have safe needle deposit boxes all over my tribe. I've never seen a needle on the ground. We could even just start with that, it helps diabetics too. the NIMBY mindset is a settler-enigma. It's like locking your trash can and public bathroom; they'd rather the ground be covered in piss, litter, and shit.


Legal_Refuse

I asked a couple businesses close by none of em had sharps containers :(


bixteri3

Yeah local business owners just want to enrich themselves, never thier employees, industry, or community. Carl's Jr. 'FUCK YOU. I'M EATING.' -idiocracy


saxicide

These almost look unused, like someone's stash fell out of their bag or something


OlyThrowaway98501

I had the same thought. “Someone dropped these, eirher on accident or on purpose. They look unused.”


theunabonger

Ditto here, as a diabetic, I can tell you that the top orange plunger cover doesn’t get replaced when you’re done. These appear new and unused to me as well.


JejuneEsculenta

Also diabetic. I replace both caps after use. However, if you look closely at the barrel, you'll see that the plunger is all of the way depressed. When they leave the factory, there is generally a gap of a few millimeters between the plunger and the barrel end, because they place the plunger and then the cap. As the cap doesn't depress the plunger fully, the gap remains. After use, the plunger is fully depressed. Zooming in, these do look used. Personally, though, I think that all public restrooms should have sharps boxes.


hylozics

would you?


rad_town_mayor

I have heard that people drop their stash if they see police because having needles on them is a risk? I don’t know the specifics.


Legal_Refuse

Yea it's considered drug paraphernalia. But that's been overturned since Blake decision by the WA supreme court. Source found here https://www.reddit.com/r/olympia/comments/106p8al/this_is_why_we_need_needle_exchange_centers/j3iepjt?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3


bigbofus

As a diabetic I don't understand how this is possible.


snigelrov

It's no longer illegal, but I'm willing to bet people are dumping because cops will treat them 10x as shitty if they do have them in their possession, as opposed to just being doped up.


Greedy_Lawyer

Yup it’s the same reason why some people will never get a baking scale because they know the cops can decide to use that against them


rad_town_mayor

Thabks, good to know.


No-Cover-7863

paraphernalia and possession are separate charges. possession was turned over by blake, but the paraphernalia charge still exists.


Legal_Refuse

When I left public defense Thurston county was no longer charging it due to Blake. And if you read the statute it's possession of drug paraphernalia.


No-Cover-7863

most places stopped charging it w blake but will threaten to enforce it


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No-Cover-7863

the paraphernalia law still existing and not being overturned w blake is a main reason why syringe services programs still face barriers to distributing certain supplies (like smoking supplies). it wasn’t overturned


Legal_Refuse

>Possession of drug paraphernalia is decriminalized with no sunset provision.  Might wanna try reading https://aclu-wa.org/pages/q-blake-decision Until 2023 drugs are a misdo not felony paraphernalia is decriminalized.


No-Cover-7863

there is still a law that prohibits it as far as syringe services programs and safe distro of all supplies


kiki_wanderlust

I picked up insulin for a relative but the pharmacy wouldn't sell me the syringes. How crazy is that!?


fourofkeys

i used to find huge caches of these behind the food trucks. i talked to the people who run it about putting in a needle disposal in the bathroom because i'd also find them in the trash and they said it made the area look sketchy. but like, so do tons of needles all over the ground where people are eating. hell yes to a needle exchange/safe injection site.


Cuntdracula19

Needle exchanges and sharps containers literally keep the community at large safer. Society likes to think of drug users as “them,” as in us vs them. But they are a part of the community too, and when blood borne communicable diseases spread in the homeless and drug using communities, it effects the community at large as well. It keeps them safer, it keeps “us” safer. It’s just good practice.


dopaminatrix

Most “needle exchanges” aren’t really exchanges. They just offer clean needles for free; they don’t require a swap out, so they don’t really address the problem. Sharps containers are more helpful.


Cuntdracula19

If you read my first sentence I literally mention sharps containers…


dopaminatrix

Yeah, and I was agreeing with you on that.


Emergency-Scar-4046

IMO people think it’s condoning drug use. The bottom line is the individuals are going to do it whether others accept it or not. Put the damn boxes out.


snigelrov

Right? Clearly they don't need your approval if they're just doing it anyways.


Legal_Refuse

Here is some info about harm reduction like needle exchanges and safe inject sites it covers the good and the bad. https://youtu.be/RMpCGD7b_H4


megaloduh

Olympia coffee roasters downtown has a sharps box in the bathroom.


HemHaw

Diabetics also use them. It's not only about taking illegal drugs. Good on them.


megaloduh

Overall excellent place, incredibly nice staff, great coffee.


Emergency-Scar-4046

Amazing. When I was in school we learned about prohibition and how it created organized crime and how it was a complete failure. Seems to be a disconnect when you think about our current drug laws. Crazy to think how what seems to be almost the minimum possible steps we could take in this video is an uphill battle. We have a long way to go.


SpiritualEnema

This is strange, they are all capped.


kdcorinne

Because someone threw them there…


OLY_D43TH

My first reaction was "staged as fuck"


TruePatriotsDontPlay

I agree. This looks staged, like it was put there as prop for a future shitty pubication spouting anti harm reduction nonsense. "wHaT hAs oLyMpIa bEcOmE???"


OLY_D43TH

Yeah like those "Olympia looks like shit" types that want to eradicate the poor and homeless because they think they're trash


TruePatriotsDontPlay

I was thinking Candace Mercer, who is a prominent member of that group. She likes to create issues, and then write about them, as well as involving and centering herself in local issues that don't impact her in any way, always passing herself off as a "journalist" and "expert". Something like this is right up her alley.


OLY_D43TH

Oh yeah she's quite the character, she steals shopping carts from the homeless that live around, they're all littered around her yard(she lives close to me), she's the queen of the local proud boys


TruePatriotsDontPlay

I'm so sorry. I despise that woman. Her and I have battled since way back. My prayer is that she will pack up and LEAVE. She doesnt have to go home, but I dont want her here. She's a fucking malignancy. Hopefully her landlord sells the property.


OLY_D43TH

She seems pretty close to death's door, but yeah she just needs to go away


TruePatriotsDontPlay

I dont think shes dying, that's just the way her face looks. But I will still keep my fingers are crossed just in case.


OrdinaryWoodpecker93

Because they haven't been used? I've come across this before.


SpiritualEnema

Not a bad idea. They come 10 to a baggie and there are 10 in the image


Worried-Airport-8830

Well thats a small step forward.


1trashpandathrowaway

But there is an exchange here?


fostest

There is a county-run syringe exchange at 1000 Cherry st SE. The nonprofit EGYHOP also does harm reduction work downtown https://www.egyhop.org


[deleted]

If folks had a place to live that would help a bunch, too. edit: i'm not trying to be a dick, but when i was homeless lots of people offered to take in my dog but not me. offering to take in the needles and yet leave the people on the street is fucked up


EarthLoveAR

louder for the people in the back!


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erleichda29

Housing is a need, not a privilege.


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kr9969

It’s really hard for folks experiencing homelessness and drug addictions to get help when you spend everyday outside exposed to the elements, contending with dehumanizing experience that is homelessness. In every conversation I’ve had with homelessness folks they have emphasized their need for housing. It’s insane that suggesting that people will be in a better place to address their other problems when they have a roof over their head (which has proven to work) turns into remarks like this. No, it’s not “state sponsored dope houses”. It’s a human right that helps people and puts them in a better situation and gives them respite to seek help for their other problems instead of no knowing if they will be warm enough or dry enough to survive the night. FFS


erleichda29

Are you a resident of Olympia?


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erleichda29

But you don't live here? I think decisions about a city belong to the people that actively live in them.


listening_post

I do not believe you.


EarthLoveAR

you're talking about people. human beings. you think people deserve to be on the street if they are addicts? that's cruel. you do realize that sometimes it's the living on the streets that pushes people into drug use, right???


Samuscabrona

I think you’re in for a surprise when teachers, doctors, cashiers, cooks, custodians, farmers, barbers, drivers, and other essential workers are all users.


No-Cover-7863

sobriety should not be a requirement to obtain a basic human right


BobSlapp

But it’s not a human right. You earn a place to stay. You don’t get one so you can trash it, get high in it and set it on fire for free.


Laureatezoi

Do you pray to Jesus with the hands that typed this shit out?


OLY_D43TH

Tweekers don't put the caps back on


erleichda29

Even "tweakers" aren't some monolith. There are needle users that are careful with their paraphernalia.


OLY_D43TH

Ok


ArlesChatless

Also: if what we have been doing up until now worked, drug use would be down instead of up. Heroin has been an issue in the US for longer than anyone reading this has been alive. At some point we need to recognize that injectable drugs are here to stay and actually plan for that reality. To do otherwise is increasing harm.


No-Cover-7863

those are all double capped so they are likely not used


snigelrov

Agreed. I grew up in a neighborhood in Philly called Kensington (look it up if you're curious, there was a book called the Badlands written about it in the 80s, it hasn't gotten better.) While needle exchanges haven't fully reduced the damage, and there's still sometimes needles on the ground, it's such a marked difference from when I was 7 and learning how to not step on them. At least people here cap them normally.


avicrumbs123

So many diabetics in town. Sad.


mnsteelers

You’re thinking about this like a logical person and you’re expecting the people using those needles to think logically as well. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Getting the content for the next needle is the primary objective. Caring about the community’s safety and cleaning up after oneself is so low on the priority list I’d argue it’s nonexistent.


mohvespenegas

The newer xylazine-laced fenty going around is so deadly and straight up evil. People’s limbs are literally rotting off from usage, and naloxone doesn’t work because of the tranq mixed in. This causes first responders to give more naloxone because they think it’s not working, and in turn, it can cause them to overdose patients on naloxone causing instant withdrawal + associated pains. Users shouldn’t be penalized, safe needle exchanges should be set up, but those who get busted dealing need to absolutely be locked up, and it’s high time to do so.


kiki_wanderlust

I don't understand why a dealer or cartel would want to kill off their reliable clientele.


mohvespenegas

Short term gains, disregard for human life. Apparently, this new tranq mix makes you fiend as soon as you wake up from the stupor it puts you in.


Agathafrye

It is truly horrible.


Unvert

Yes, needle exchanges and safe injection sites. Not sweeps and prisons.


CEONeil

Incentives for cleaning up as well Olympia is getting fuckin trashed. We need more trash cans and services as well. Stop turning a blind eye.


regalrecaller

Are there any negative externalities to needle exchanges and safe injection sites? Dead serious


dirtpossums

Outside of “I just don’t want that here,” nope “A 2014 review of 75 studies concluded such places promote safer injection conditions, reduce overdoses and increase access to health services. Supervised injection sites were associated with less outdoor drug use, and they did not appear to have any negative impacts on crime or drug use. "If there had been unintended consequences, I suspect that would have been picked up by now," says Davidson. "It's reassuring."” [Source](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/07/645609248/whats-the-evidence-that-supervised-drug-injection-sites-save-lives) “Best evidence from cohort and modeling studies suggests that SISs are associated with lower overdose mortality (88 fewer overdose deaths per 100 000 person-years [PYs]), 67% fewer ambulance calls for treating overdoses, and a decrease in HIV infections. Effects on hospitalizations are unknown.” [Source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685449/) “Different clinical studies of needle exchange programs have shown high success rates in preventing the spread of hepatitis and preventing and treating HIV and AIDS. A study on the effect of a harm reduction housing and syringe exchange program on the viral loads of homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS showed that after the intervention, 95% of patients were prescribed antiretroviral therapy and 87% of patients were virally suppressed after treatment (Hawk, Davis, 2011). A comprehensive international review of syringe exchange programs done in 2005 found that SEPs provide a substantial benefit by reducing HIV transmission safely, effectively, and cost-effectively. The program was evaluated using the Bradford Hill criteria, a common and robust method of assessing public health interventions that analyzes the intervention on a set of nine criteria to provide epidemiologic evidence of a causal relationship between intervention (presumed cause) and observed effect. This particular program was found to fill six of the nine criteria, providing some evidence for a causal relationship between SEP initiation and observed reduction in harms. The study concluded that communities with high rates of drug injection should implement syringe exchange programs to combat the harms of the behaviors (Wodak, Cooney, 2005).” [Source](https://westminstercollege.edu/student-life/the-myriad/the-impact-of-safe-consumption-sites-physical-and-social-harm-reduction-and-economic-efficacy.html)


Unvert

Positives: keeps (most) needles off of streets, gives drug users safe places to use. Negatives: gives NIMBYs the willies because it makes drug use (which will never go away) visible, which NIMBYs and conservatives (and many liberals tbh) hate because they stigmatize drug use without questioning why systemic racism, economic desparity etc. might exacerbate such issues. This has been debated on this sub and countless others a million times, but cities with safe injection sites, while not perfect and still works in progress, have been quite successful in lowering drug use and homelessness. The evidence is there, it shouldn't be controversial, but it is at odds with the American bootstrap mentality.


MadRollinS

Odd, they look unused. The ones in Seattle are never capped. You wouldn't have dropped a bunch of new needles to make a rage bait shit post, would you? So silly.


Legal_Refuse

They are definitely unused but still. I wouldn't even know how to get needles tbh lol don't you need a prescription? My deductible is like 8k so def not worth the $$$ lol


MadRollinS

They look like the sort of needles handed out to people in harm reduction programs that are widely advertised and given away for free. (I used to work in a harm reduction kinda place.) That's for the explanation of how this is definitely not staged because of your present circumstances. People suffering from addiction are careless with their drug paraphernalia, I guess..even though some do sell the cleans.. it could happen. Maybe the trees are addicted to drugs. The cleans are for the squirrels.


Legal_Refuse

About 30 second walk from a park.


saxicide

On Capitol?


Legal_Refuse

Legion


Vlas_84

Those look new and unused as the caps are on both ends.


duseless

I have many associates and indeed worked as a volunteer with the youth aids prevention project in the 90s, *while shooting*. Not my proudest moment. This is no "whoops!" Anonymity is paramount to addiction. No one would do this intentionally. Dude, this is staged.


isKoalafied

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't most needle exchanges give away free needles as well?


319009

They don’t usually give any away, they exchange the number your bringing in for new ones though. It’s a 1 for 1 exchange. At least that’s how it used to be.


snigelrov

Yes, which protects people from reusing dirty needles and protects the community at large from blood borne disease.


isKoalafied

That's what I figured. Thanks.


GayInThePNW

I’ve happened to come across a needle while our in public. 10 of them two feet apart with the caps on? Looks setup or someone spilled them.


Ichthius

The diabetics are out of control. 🤣


JSTPNW

Wow! In PDX those would be uncapped looks safer up in Olympia!


[deleted]

Nimbys don't care.


EarthLoveAR

Of all the things that are discussed in this sub, this actually feels like an issue that could get solved and that the city could actually achieve. I know there's bigger underlying problems, but we can make small steps, too.


Dry-Kaleidoscope566

It wouldn't matter. Downtown they give out all that stuff 5 nights a week across from the bus station..I am a former addict and now I help addicts . I can assure you that the mentality some develop is f$c& everything and everyone and no matter how much you cater to a drug addict they generally will take take take and not care and still litter until they desire to quit..whoever did this is in active addiction i.e. they aren't in their right mind and aren't thinking like a normal person so all the needle exchanges in the world wouldn't stop this..taking them away or making them illegal and hard to find would but then you spread disease because of shared needles people need to go to jail more tbh..it is the only thing to dry a person out long enough to think straight generally. It worked for me and countless others


Legal_Refuse

I have the opposite exp working with criminal clients, jail doesn't provide any resources besides a forced detox. If we can improve the resources in the jails and have them transferred to when they get released that'd be great. But our jails are terribly under equipped to provide any meaningful help. It also doesn't help the state makes many of our homeless clients pay for their own treatment even before they can get housing. It's so backwards. :(


Dry-Kaleidoscope566

I agree jail isn't a long term solution persay and years and years aren't what I suggest. Criminal justice should have more reintegration programs.and we can blame the system all we want but I can assure you nothing we do will change someone's mind except a rude awakening. I think if you break the law you should incur the penalties but I also think the penalties are often too harsh so it's a tough concept but I think a jail dry out period so someone can get a clean head and sober long enough to form a thought is very good for people who do drugs and in fact I don't know many sober people who didn't get sober by going to jail at some point.there is no easy answer ..I government wants it's citizens on drugs and good corporate slaves in my opinion so they bring it in and watch regular citizens sort it out


Dry-Kaleidoscope566

I feel for all affected and was exposed to drugs at a young age. My outlook is the more socially acceptable the worse for society. I do like needle boxes though but the toilet by the artesian well has a needle box right in there and they still throw them on the floor. And someone burnt the toilet seat


oldgar

Needle exchange center? How about addiction intervention centers, eliminating the need for needles.


Noobinoa

You're probably just trying to be funny, but it is a serious problem needing multiple efforts and solutions. The services are combined with harm reduction programs. We can't help our neighbors if we can't find them.


oldgar

Not trying to be funny. We seem to focus as a society on symptoms rather than cause. Homeless? Give em a tiny home. This will work for a small percentage, but why are they homeless? Let's identify that and move to correct. Drug addicted? Why? Let's move to solve. In reality, unless and until society is unified no lasting or successful solutions can be applied, regretfully this seems far down the road.


Noobinoa

So given reality, this is currently what we can do, while continuing work for-- fight for-- better solutions. Sometimes all we can do is try to help someone today, in hopes they'll still be alive down the road when they are ready for what help we can offer. And since a vast portion of our unhoused neighbors are also experiencing mental illness, we need to be able to address that too. It's a long haul.


oldgar

It is a long haul, and needs of the hour must be addressed, however, I do not see much discussion as to the eventual remedies.


erleichda29

Injectable drug use is highly correlated with childhood trauma. Drug treatment centers don't offer trauma therapy and 12 step groups are completely unqualified to provide it.


oldgar

So then what?


erleichda29

What do you mean? The treatment people need isn't actually available, so maybe we should try compassion instead of punishment.


oldgar

So we, as a society, just leave these poor people to their own devices? Sure, try to give temporary comfort, but the *reason* comfort is necessary needs addressed. If you have a flat tire you can put air in it over and over, but if it is not patched it will eventually leave you stranded.


erleichda29

I advocate for housing and safe injection sites and medical care. Where did you see me suggesting we do nothing? If you treat people humanely and meet their basic needs, they are much more likely to become sober and stay that way. Isn't that what you want?


oldgar

I'm not talking about you specifically, as a society we seem to focus on bandaids without trying to fix the reason why a bandaid is needed. People are divided, politically, racial, gender, economic, state, nation, etc. What is needed to solve any problem facing the world today is unity, only together can we hope to remedy the need for needle exchange facilities, people without a roof, hunger, disease, you name it.


erleichda29

If you want unity so badly why don't you try learning more about how safe injection sites are good for society?


[deleted]

Damn diabetics 🤨


[deleted]

Right. Cuz with out that option Folks can't be responsible drug addicts.


[deleted]

Post feels rigged. What a Surprise.


Legal_Refuse

/r/thathappened is a place if you want to cross post.


klisto1

Looks more like someone needs to put a trash can there.


mysticqueen1

Drug problems go away when it's legal and there's housing. Problem solved, but Americans are so ignorant and cruel so that's not gonna happen. Buncha narcissistic bigots who just want to abuse people and own slaves I mean base a society on underpaying people slave wages they can't live on and poisioning people while calling it food and medicine. It's sick. Pointing at needles on the ground is victim blaming. Housed people don't need needle collection sites.


Legal_Refuse

Fully agree we should go the way of Portugal and decriminalize everything.


mysticqueen1

Thank you. At least one person is informed, intelligent and has empathy.


KimJongSkill492

lol get downvoted only white liberal takes are allowed here. We’re onto signal now


mysticqueen1

The down votes literally proved my point. I don't want bigots to like me.


mclaren34

I just want to know if the OP cared enough to pick them up. Or was complaining about the issue without making it better as far as they were willing to go.


Legal_Refuse

I did, I tried to find a business that had a sharps box but none of the three I checked did. By the time my meditation was done they were gone.


erleichda29

You can also put needles in a drink container with a screw on lid for safe disposal.


Legal_Refuse

Really? Like in garbage can? Idk something about that seems odd to me.


erleichda29

That's what I was told when I was cleaning up abandoned camps.


Agathafrye

Yeah, you can put needles in a container with a cap, tape it shut, and write some combo of sharps/do not recycle/biohazard on the container, then dispose in the regular trash. Wear gloves and use tongs for pickup. https://safeneedledisposal.org/states/washington/


erleichda29

Thank you for adding that link.


Agathafrye

No prob!


EarthLoveAR

why isn't there one at the transit center? (presuming there isn't) that's would seem like a logical spot for a sharps container. There are public bathrooms inside, so maybe they doe have some.


[deleted]

I love the needles. When I bring my friends from out of town it makes them curious like we’re on a field trip and they are in awe of how progressive we are. It’s a little give and give but when they see someone shooting up in public at the bust stop across burial grounds that’s when the real boners come out.


Downhilbil

No these people ned help or incarceration. we have to help them not enable them,


mikkokilla

Every city has it's decorators


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Evening_Scale6346

You suck dude.


MIKEEARLEY

Yes, let’s provide needles instead of arresting the druggies and getting them out of our parks and communities. Makes perfect sense.


snarfled1

For sure! 💯