Needles everywhere: Newmarket Square businesses, residents and police face onslaught of used needles

The Southampton/Crosstown Safety Task Force met this morning to survey the mounting problem of drug addicts discarding ever growing numbers of needles in the streets and on the sidewalks of the Newmarket Square area - home to a number of programs for drug addicts and the homeless.

A landscaper working the grounds of a hotel in the area recently got pricked by a needle. State Police sweep Melnea Cass Boulevard near the I-93 connector every two to three weeks for needles and now find an average of 450 needles on the ground. They put up a "sharps" container for people to dispose of needles, but it was promptly stolen.

Boston and Transit Police say they get people to shelters or programs only to see them back out on the streets again. Continued problems caused by the closing of Long Island a year ago aren't helping.

A resident who attended the session filed the following report:

A D4 police rep feels a big problem with needles is people do not have to turn in used needles to exchange for new ones. "It is not an exchange program, you just get new needles."

A Health Department rep said City Hall Property Management is delaying Sharps container centers. Police want the Sharps container centers up ASAP. City Hall is "forming the policy." One task force member worried nothing will be done until some kid picks one up sticks himself and gets sick. "Then the policy will be tomorrow."

The Health Department rep says the city is seeing people come here from other cities even states to use the facilities, shelters here in Boston. There are a lot of people banned/barred from city shelters; a lot if not all those folks are also barred from Pine Street, etc.

Police now regularly patrol the area on bicycles and say their goal is to get people into treatment rather than jail. A Transit Police officer said his department's arrests are actually down for them in the area. Most of the people they do arrest are repeat offenders. Also: They are having a problem with loiterers and couples who can't reside together in shelters.

B2 police rep says most of the calls they now respond to are medical in nature and that homeless are moving into Dudley Square: "Something we have never seen before." In Newmarket Square itself, people are moving out of apartments on Pompeii Street because of all the addicts and the problems they are causing. The meeting was held at the Metro Credit Union, across the street from Victoria's Diner, whose owner said her security guard was assaulted and she now has customers who no longer feel safe going there.

Methadone, Klonopin, K2 are big problems, police say. Gabapentin (Johnnys) is a big problem as it enhances methadone. "A lot of these people aren't homeless - they're just addicts," one officer said. Says 1st of the month always shows a massive influx (SSI checks etc.). Methadone clinic gives out around 450 doses a day.

Public Health is pushing for "sobering center" Problem is "time and money." Police officer worried about the liability with a sobering center.

A Worcester Square resident said residents don't know what to do when they find used needles. The city's 311 needle-reporting system needs more publicity.

Some people are trying to get bus shelters removed or moved due to people congregating, but there's a problem with ADA compliance and moving the shelters and benches. Also removing shelters or seats sort of screws people who want to catch the bus.

Earlier:
Volunteer pricked by needle while cleaning up North End bocce courts.