GREAT FALLS — In the breezeway of one of the entrances to Alluvion Health's lobby in Great Falls is a sharps (needle) disposal drop-box. Alluvion is at 601 1st Avenue North.
"It's been a long time coming. We've been hearing reports for years and years about finding syringes in parks and on playgrounds. There's been a number of waste management employees that have been stuck by syringes that have been improperly disposed of in the trash,” said Beth Morrison, Alliance For Youth prevention specialist.
Alliance For Youth teamed up with Alluvion to make the box a reality. Morrison hopes the it will do more than just make the community safer, though: "All too frequently people think this is for drug users, intravenous drug users, and it's really not. So we're trying to reduce the stigma,” said Morrison.
That's why the box is just now being publicized even though it's been up for awhile.
"Alluvion just kind of wanted to have it there and be word-of-mouth for awhile,” Morrison said.
Alluvion's marketing director, Erin Merchant, said having the box is exciting: "Having a sharps drop-off box is the best way for us to prevent disease spread.”
How much the box is being used was unclear Friday, but regardless, Morrison believes more are needed.
The box will be one of many topics discussed at a Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance meeting on November 12 at 4:30 pm. The meeting will take place via Zoom; click here to participate. The meeting passcode is 225545.
