Dirty needles and used condoms left strewn about in inner-city school yards
and playgrounds pose a serious danger for young students of at least two
elementary schools and are becoming a citywide concern, says a city report.

The city is taking action to address the escalating issue of debris from
prostitution and intravenous drug use. It is developing a co-ordinated
citywide response to tackle the problem. The fire department is willing to
assume a leadership role in co-ordinating a response.

``It's a problem in a number of different areas in the city,'' said Deputy
Police Chief Rick Hanson.

Lieut. John Conley, of the Calgary Fire Department, said firefighters find
the debris ``all over the city.''

The report obtained by the Herald Thursday, to be reviewed next week by
city council's community and protective services committee, paints a
chilling and scary picture.

Among the report's findings:

- - Caretakers at Almadina Charter School in Victoria Park find on average
one syringe per day on or near the playground, and ``there is evidence that
the playground is being used as a toilet.''

- - Staff from Connaught Community School at 1121 12th Ave. S.W., report
finding used condoms and discarded needles on the playground and under
climbing equipment.

- - Staff at Olympic Plaza find 10 to 15 dirty needles per week in the summer
months.

- - The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede collected 15 two-litre containers of
needle and condom debris last year, a 40-per-cent increase over 1997.

- - Caretakers at the Calgary Zoo hose down the public washrooms located on
the east boundary ``as a method to clean them of condoms, needle debris and
body fluids.''

``It's all true,'' said Connaught school principal Ross Jaques. ``The board
has invested money in putting motion-sensitive lights around the perimeter
of the building. That has really helped. We've worked with the police and
they've stepped up patrol of the area.''

He said caretakers do regular sweeps of the school yard before the 180
students arrive for the day.

``It's absolutely disgusting,'' said Calgary Board of Education trustee
Judy Tilston. ``No child should have to be in a school yard . . . where
that is. I'm quite horrified to hear this.''

Mel Maschmeyer, chairman of the Victoria Crossing Business Revitalization
Zone, said the debris issue has been a major concern for residents and
business owners for some time.

``Sure, it's a big problem,'' he said. ``It has always been a source of
concern.''

Hanson said the issue was initially brought up at a Calgary police
commission meeting several months ago.

Nasser Kadri, chairman of the Almadina charter school board, estimates the
school has lost students due to the drug paraphernalia and used condoms
problem. The charter school is in its third year of operation.

``After the first year we had about 25 per cent not come back. Many of the
parents told me it's because of the location of the school.''

The report says the fire department is developing a training program on how
to pick up needles and contaminant debris.

Firefighters will be providing suitable tweezers for picking the materials
up and appropriate ``sharps'' containers for disposal. ``Also under
consideration is the potential of setting up needle-drop boxes in various
community locations.''

Safeworks Calgary, funded by the Calgary Regional Health Authority and
Alberta Health, is a program designed to prevent the spread of HIV and
hepatitis infection through increasing community awareness. It operates a
needle exchange program.

Of Calgary's 6,000 estimated intravenous drug users, only 2,000 are
registered with the program.