For as long as they’ve existed, public bathrooms have been an ideal place for illicit activities. They’re private, not monitored by surveillance cameras or security guards, and generally tucked in an out-of-the-way corner. With the ever-growing drug problem, more and more people are shooting up in bathrooms, leading to health concerns for other customers and the employees who clean up after them. The blood and needles that are left behind can potentially be infected with HIV, hepatitis, or other diseases.
Some convenience stores and supermarkets are trying out a new method of discouraging drug use in their bathrooms – the installation of blue lights. These lights are meant to make it harder for people injecting drugs to see their veins, theoretically discouraging them from using.
Some experts aren’t convinced that these blue lights are effective, pointing out that it might just make it more dangerous for people trying to inject drugs, causing them to miss a vein and potentially bleed all over the bathroom. A better solution, they say, would be to place needle disposal containers in public bathrooms, because if people are going to shoot up one way or another, at least they can safely dispose of the paraphernalia. A study conducted by the Harm Reduction Journal in 2013 interviewed a group of injection drug users in Canadian cities about their thoughts on the blue lights. The majority of these people had attempted to use drugs in spite of the lights, and while they found it more difficult, it did not deter them. When an immediate craving hits, they said, an addict will inject just about anywhere, blue lights or no.
Another concern is that if drug users are unable to find a vein, they might start injecting into the femoral vein in the groin area. No visible vein is needed for groin injection, but the practice is even more dangerous than other methods. There is a considerable risk of infections and thrombosis because the femoral vein is close to the surface. It is also possible to miss the vein and cause damage to the femoral artery or nerve. The femoral nerve supplies the thighs and knees, and damage to it can cause difficulties walking and loss of sensation in the leg and foot.
The blue lights can also create a dangerous environment for other members of the public and employees. The dim lighting can lead to people tripping and falling or accidentally touching hazardous waste. If people are deterred from injecting in bathrooms, they’re going to find other places to do so, like stairwells, alleys, or parks. There are also specific concerns about homeless people who inject drugs. These people frequently use public restrooms as a place to get clean, and if forced to move elsewhere they would be exposed to far less hygienic environments.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
