One of the most common complaints one hears in Jamestown is finding discarded needles in parks or near sidewalks.

City residents are concerned when they happen across needles. Cleaning up needles could result in exposure to various blood-borne illnesses, including HIV and hepatitis, in addition to potentially causing injury. And many parents are petrified of their child finding the discarded needles before parents see them.

Give credit to Dan Stone, city parks manager, and city officials for discussing a partial solution. Kari Huels and Kelley Potter of Prevention Works recently attended a City Council work session to discuss a state program that purchases syringe disposal kiosks and a year of medical waste disposal services.

Particular problem areas in the city include city parks like Panzarella and Dow, the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk and city parking garages. None of these are places where families want to find discarded needles.

Intravenous drug use is a sad reality of society these days, but it is a reality that cannot be ignored. City Council members, Mayor Eddie Sundquist and city department heads like Stone aren’t considering needle kiosks in order to encourage drug use, but rather to try and do something to protect public health and safety.

The city’s response is better than the alternative, which is to do nothing.