A reminder: "How to Discard Syringes and Other Sharps," because the opioid crisis is real, whether local "leaders" grasp it or not.

Whatever one's personal stance on the opioid crisis, it is a fact that needles will be left behind, and there are steps to take to dispose of them safely.

The city of Louisville has produced the information reprinted above. The city of New Albany seems to feel (a) there is no problem, or (b) if there is a problem, it's someone else's responsibility.

We don't know which, primarily because City Hall stays mum and shirks the topic.

Sound familiar?

Why opioid deaths are this generation’s Aids crisis, by Mary O'Hara (The Guardian)

 ... This crisis isn’t confined to the US. Canada is in the midst of its own opioid crisis. However, coinciding with last month’s Harm Reduction International conference in Montreal, the Canadian government took what was seen as a world-leading step to confront the problem. It passed legislation making it easier to open supervised injection sites so that users can inject safely and, should an overdose occur, trained medical professionals are on site to provide life-saving help such as administering anti-overdose medication. It’s the epitome of a sensible harm reduction approach that aims to reduce or eliminate harm rather than, as is often the case, punish or stigmatise users ...

 ... Drug users have long been one of the most demonised and marginalised groups in society – and a low priority for policymakers. This simply can’t continue. A public health crisis and loss of life on the scale currently being witnessed warrants an immediate, and unapologetically progressive response.