Faced with an increase in complaints about dirty syringes left behind in its network, the Société de transport de Montréal is deploying boxes for the first time to collect these needles in several metro stations, we learned. The newspaper.
In recent weeks, at the end of the Papineau station platform, two metal containers attached to the wall have appeared, with stickers encouraging people to place syringes there.
“We have an ongoing pilot project lasting six months which aims to install boxes to collect syringes,” said Amélie Régis, spokesperson for the STM, when questioned by The newspaper on this subject.
This initiative aims to respond to the growing phenomenon of drug consumption in the metro, where the STM says it observes issues of “injection equipment left behind”.
According to data obtained by The newspaperthe transport company saw the number of complaints regarding the presence of syringes increase in 2023, where it received 73, compared to 66 in 2022. As of February 29, users had already submitted 31 complaints for the year 2024.
“We can hurt ourselves with that [les seringues qui traînent]. The metro is not really the place to consume. It’s not safe,” worries Raphaël, a metro user he meets when leaving Papineau station.
“Sometimes it’s on the platform, along the wall, on the stairs. These are syringes left without any protection,” said a maintenance employee at the Papineau station who preferred to remain anonymous.
Five stations targeted
“Syringes left at stations by injecting drug users have an impact on the feeling of security and harm the smooth running of night work,” adds Amélie Régis of the STM.
As part of the pilot project, the first boxes were installed in 2023 outside Joliette and Iberville stations, located respectively on the green and blue lines.
“A study carried out in 2010 shows that the installation of such syringe drop boxes makes it possible to reduce the quantity of injection equipment abandoned near the boxes by up to 92%,” indicated Mme Regis.
New boxes must “soon” be installed on the platforms of the two stations neighboring Papineau station, Beaudry and Frontenac, said the STM.
All three are located in the Centre-Sud district, where we find the Gay Village. This sector has been experiencing a real crisis of homelessness and drug addiction for several years.
“It’s getting worse” in the neighborhood
“I have been asked twice in recent months to buy drugs near the Berri-UQAM station,” says resident Lucien Landry. It’s getting worse and worse.”
Lucien Landry is worried about the state of his district, the Centre-Sud.
Photo Olivier Faucher
This reality was striking Monday afternoon, as the Newspaper.
In the space of a few minutes, STM special constables intervened in three cases of people visibly intoxicated and lying on benches, sometimes more or less conscious or in crisis on the Papineau station platform.
Already 15 naloxone interventions
STM special constables had already had to administer naloxone 15 times to overdose users this year as of March 13.
In 2023, we had to wait until the 1er April so that the balance sheet reaches 15.
“There are more people consuming. When we arrive and the person is unconscious with consumer equipment around, we do 1+1,” explains Kevin Grenier, president of the Fraternity of Constables and Peace Officers of the STM, affiliated with the CSN.
STM special constables have been able to administer naloxone since 2022.