City Ponders Retractable Needles for Pilot Project

Ottawa's health department announced Tuesday it is considering a pilot project that would replace standard syringes in its needle exchange program with special ones featuring a retractable needle. After an injection is complete, the needle automatically retracts back into the plunger of the syringe. Retractable needles would not only prevent people from being stuck by a discarded needle but would also prevent people from reusing needles, reducing the chances of spreading HIV and other diseases.

If launched, the pilot project may be the first of its kind in the world. "I think what we've seen looks very interesting," said Dr. Geoff Dunkley, the city's associate medical officer of health. "But we have to move carefully because it's not being done elsewhere." Dunkley said he didn't want to oversell the project; however, he expects something to be in place within a few months. The project will only work, he said, if the clients like the needles.

The chair of the Community Advisory Committee on Syringe Program, Cheryl Parott, said the needles will improve safety for all -- from emergency workers to injection drug users to children playing at the beach. Councilor Elisabeth Arnold said she was excited by the proposal, particularly since the discarded needles are a problem in her Somerset Ward. "It's extremely important to me that we have a safe and effective program," she said. "This is very exciting. I think everybody will be really happy if this works."

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