On the 29th September edition of this newspaper, the leader titled ‘Drugs in the Community’, raised several issues in relation to the abuse of drugs, as implied in the title.

In that editorial, we raised several questions which pertained to the scheme to hand out syringes to discourage sharing of needles in the consumption of heroin.

We had pointed out that some health centres had joined a scheme for distributing needles and the opportunity to dispose of them in specialised safety containers without fear of action being taken against the user for doing so.

Figures tabled last night in parliament back up the thrust of the editorial, which said that drug use has permeated into all strata of Maltese society. It was announced yesterday that in the first six months of this year, Government Health Centres handed out 145,508 free syringes to addicts. Non scientifically, this seems to show that drug use is either showing a slight increase, or users are obtaining more syringes from the centres as last year, a total of 278,124 were distributed.

The figures show localised use. Gzira distributed a total of 42,150, Paola distributed 38,800 and 18,700 in Cospicua. The rest of the syringes were distributed in Floriana, Mosta, Qormi and Rabat. The figures are quite alarming.

So, it seems that a couple of our questions were answered. We established that the syringes are still being distributed and we also know the numbers.

But there are other questions which we posed last time round which have not yet been answered. Many people call the offices of this newspaper, or send us photographs of used syringes lying around in playgrounds and desolate corners in Malta and Gozo. So we again ask the question, do users still have the facility to dispose of syringes in a sanitary manner in safety containers? And we again ask, is it paying dividends? If it is not still in operation, why? We are not questioning any part of the drug enforcement operations – results, good ones at that, have been obtained by law enforcement agencies in seizing illicit drugs. But we feel we have the duty to ask these questions for the benefit of the community.

Syringes are distributed to users to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS – rightly so. But while users have rights, Joe Public also has rights.

This newspaper in the past published articles about adults and children who have had agonising waits for tests after pricking themselves on syringes found lying around. While it is not fair to hound drug users, it is not fair on the general public to have such a threat to people’s wellbeing in our midst. The government and its agencies need to answer these questions and this paper is of the belief that the scheme involving the yellow disposal containers should be revived. Even if it is still in operation, then the authorities need to push it more. The reasons are twofold. The first is to encourage the user to take a more socially responsible attitude towards his habit and the second would be to inform the public that there is a scheme in place and that drug users do not have the monopoly.

Drugs are a very frightening thing, but so are potentially life threatening diseases. Let us not forget, contagious diseases involve more than HIV. There are hepatitis strains and sexually transmitted diseases that find another way into the body.