Does Saskatoon have a big needle drug problem?

[Spiff]

Re: A press release from today:

ARRIVAL OF SPRING UNCOVERS HIDDEN DANGER

Saskatoon Fire & Protective Services (SFPS) reminds residents that recent warm weather is melting the snow and revealing discarded hypodermic needles. These used needles pose a threat as there is often blood left inside which may contain traces of Hepatitis and HIV, enough to infect another person. <snip>

So … does Saskatoon have a big needle drug problem that would require such a warning?

If so, I could find nothing about it on the Saskatoon Web site

(Although, that’s where I found the press release …)

Can any western CanaDopers give us the Straight Dope on this?

[pravnik]

A look through google shows that they have a needle distribution/exchange program. That usually goes hand in hand with a intraveneous drug use problem. Also, I found this little blurb:

“Results from Phase II of the Enhanced Surveillance of Canadian Street Youth Study showed that 20% of participants (n=1,733) had ever injected drugs. There was considerable regional variation with 10% in Halifax to 30% in Saskatoon to 35% in Vancouver.”

Source: Wong T. Enhanced surveillance of Canadian street youth. Proceedings of the MSM/IDU Data Consultation Meeting, Ottawa, March 8-9, 2001. Bureau of HIV/AIDS, STD and TB, PPHB, Health Canada.

30%? Yowch.