Blue lights

[Ursula]

Here's a really interesting article that this morning's DS Daily linked to about how to go about challenging the installation of blue lights in public toilets on the grounds of increased risk of harm: http://www.injectingadvice.com/articles/guestwrite/211-stephenparkin4
 

[mac15]

Hi Ursula,
 to ensurepeople inject safely
Firstly this is only my opinion but must addicts inject in public places,it was something i never done.When i use to score the anticipation was enough to make me feel a bit better then i would use in my own home.

In my line of work i am called to many closes to pick up used works and only the other day i was visiting a friend who has a dealer in his close,as i was walkin down the stair there was a guy cooking up on the landing,i was discusded,there are kids in that close,so when i got down the stair i buzzed the guy who was punting and told him what i had so and he went mental.

I know how bad it is to be rattling but surely there is no reason or excuse for having a hit in public places including toilets Ursula but i know it will continue no matter what and your post is purely in the intrests of the users safety but what about people goin about there own business seeing this,no wonder addicts are classed as the lowest of the low with this sort of useing behaviour!!!

As i say i can empathise why its done but doesnt mean i agree with it and if this is a problem in certain toilets they must be seen to at least stop addicts from using in the premises.

Best Wishes Stevie x

[Ursula]

I think the problem that this report outlines is that it doesn't seem to stop people using the premises, it just reduces their ability to inject safely and increases potential harm.  If it actually worked to stop people using there, that would be a different kettle of fish.  But if it doesn't and it puts them at risk to boot, then there's definitely an argument that better tactics are needed.

[mac15]

hi ursula,definetly agree with you but as i said before obviusly if the premises have a problem they have to be seen to come up with some deterrent!!

Best Wishes  Stevie

[Jules]

Some homeless people have no option but to use wherever they can.  I have personally known people who have died in public toilets.

[wastedyouth]

I was having this conversation with my partner and i was saying that i now the reason why the blue lights have been put in but my point to my partner was that when harm reduction causes risk of harming innosents that just want to use a clean toilet then who should come first(and by the way i am no innocent i have smoked H in public tolilets for one reason i was getting squared up before i went into the complex to shoplift, but it did make me feel guilty)anyway after getting into the discution that the blue light do not stop addicts being able to inject, well it didnt him he said he would just go in with it already made up, but it is all by touch and i guess thats where the danger comes in.  When it comes to the boys/girls in hostels in a big place like Glasgow i wondered why they where not given maybe hostel/homeless ID cards(it wouldnt have to say anything about addiction all homeless should proberly get them would help them when they get stopped by the police, for no reason) which would allow then to use places like the crisis centre etc, because as long as we keep using public areas no-one is going to have any compasion for us as it LOOKS like we do care about there welfare.  Most of the people using the toilets will be in fear of catching something, they need educated on how you can/cannot catch such things as hep c, HIV etc.
Out of pure curiousity when i was in one of the blue light toilets yrs ago i looked at my arm and i could see every single vain in my arm, i know that with never haveing had injected my vains will be good, but at the end of the day i could see them and if i had been there to inject i would have been able to know problem, maybe they have improved.

[louisebra]

in all the mc donaklds toilets they are starting to install blue lights , well by me they have and thats been for a few years now