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Let’s not encourage drug addicts to move here

Recently my dog Sophie and I walked into Galbraith Park (at the 55th Street entrance), as we do most mornings, and noticed a new addition to the park (shown in the photo above).
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This intravenous needle deposit box is located at Galbraith Park in downtown Red Deer.

Recently my dog Sophie and I walked into Galbraith Park (at the 55th Street entrance), as we do most mornings, and noticed a new addition to the park (shown in the photo above).

My initial thought was, “What is that there for?”

Sophie and I continued on our walk and I started thinking.

“What is that repository for used needles there for? Why for used needles silly!”

Then my thoughts went to, “Well, who is going to put used needles into it? The drug addicts after they inject incapacitating drugs into themselves? Not likely.

“Is whoever is responsible for placing the box there trying to create a nice place in the park for drug users to use their drugs? After all, there is a nice bench there.”

Are concerned citizens who find used syringes on the ground going to put them in the box? Maybe a small percentage, but most citizens are not going to risk possibly stabbing themselves with a killer disease.

They would probably call someone from the City of Red Deer to deal with it.

So who is going to fill that great big box right at the entrance to one of the city’s parks?

That great big box probably cost $2,000 to make and another $1,000 to install in our beautiful park.

Then my mind went to what kind of message the presence of the box in the park sends to the various people who see it with its warning messages on it.

This big box seems to be very contradictory to me.

The city is spending huge amounts of tax dollars on revitalizing its parks and promoting the parks and yet we are allowing such an obtrusive thing to send the wrong message to the public.

If this sort of thing continues, you will see it get worse.

Please do not allow well-intentioned people to invite more drug addicts into our city.

John Ramsay

Red Deer