Syringe Cleanups
In areas where injected drugs are used a lot, parks can become littered with
used syringes. These pose a major health hazard. Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life
volunteers perform a valuable public service and life-saving action in many cities by
collecting up and disposing of these dangerous drug syringes.
Ask your local city officials for locations where used drug syringes are a particular
problem. Brief them on the Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life program and tell them
that your team wants to undertake regular syringe cleanups. Request that the city,
if they have them, provide the special pickup tools, thick gloves and containers as the
syringes are dangerous and should never be gathered with bare hands. If not, have
your volunteers supply their own equipment.
NOTE: This activity should be conducted by adults only. Do not allow any children
or minors to participate in the actual syringe pickup.
Organize your volunteers for each outing and set an objective of clearing out a
major section of a park, etc., to make it safe for the public. Take a lot of photos and
video footage of the activities of the day and send these along with a press release to
the media, promoting the team's action and asking that others join in.
