VIDEO: HN meets employees of controversial needle exchange in...

HN NOTES: Today I was able to finally meet some employees at a controversial needle exchange located in a family neighborhood, near several schools, a historic church, and a residential program for babies and young moms. Despite some unfriendly comments referring to me as an “ambulance chaser” and a “Media [sexually explicit slur],” I found our first meeting to be rather productive.

Leading up to today’s encounter, I had no opinion on whether or not the needle exchange located at 428 South Street took the concerns of its Hyannis neighbors seriously.

Full disclosure: I grew up in, raised my child, and currently reside in the neighborhood that now has a needle exchange that dispenses hazardous medical supplies to individuals suffering from heroin addiction. The site seemingly attracts active heroin addicts from across the region.

In recent months, HN has observed an increase in unusual foot traffic in that part of my neighborhood. I have observed more and more seemingly intoxicated individuals wandering the once quiet streets of my once quiet family neighborhood. I have observed a sudden spike in discarded hypodermic needles, both capped and uncapped. I walk my dog and she often picks things up in her mouth (She’s an elderly rescued terrier who is taking medication to fight cancerous tumors. The medication makes her abnormally seek food… or anything with an unusual scent which draws attention when she’s sniffing the ground). Yesterday she nearly picked up a discarded capped needle while on our morning walk. If I hadn’t noticed she would have possibly ingested the hazardous medical waste.

There is a school zone within a block of the needle exchange and children of all ages are out walking and jogging on sidewalks that are now littered with needles. There is a residential program for babies and young moms recovering from addiction on the corner of High School Road and South Street. I believe these babies are at risk should they wander about those grounds, supervised or unsupervised. Needles are hard to see and any child could easily trample on or handle this hazardous medical waste and become contaminated with a wide range of diseases.

When speaking with the employees at the needle exchange today, I did not get the feeling they cared or carefully considered the safety and well being of the children and families that currently exist in that part of town.

On some level, their intentions may be noble. So, as someone who is also close to, supporting, and caring about several recovering addicts, I am all for programs that are well intended, but more importantly, considerate and well planned out.

Hyannis has always been open to helping the homeless, mentally ill, and drug addicted… much more so than any other town across Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. In fact, in downtown Hyannis there is currently more than 70 social service agencies near to family neighborhoods and schools.

We have reached a saturation point. It is unfair to the children and families of my neighborhood and greater Hyannis to be forced to shoulder the region’s problems to the detriment of our own families and personal endeavors.

When I responded to today’s emergency call at 428 South Street, it was originally reported as an overdose… in fact, it was the 2nd reported Hyannis overdose within that hour. Overdoses have been known to occur at an hourly rate in Hyannis and that definitely needs to change.

To be clear, according to a needle exchange employee at today’s scene, she was adamant the call was not an overdose after all. But her statements are impossible to confirm because the patient allegedly quickly fled the scene in a vehicle escaping down South Street, through a school zone, when children were present… HN was in the area on South Street before all first responders and just moments after the call. I did not witness a fleeing vehicle. Which suggests the possibility the vehicle quickly fled the area… or perhaps didn’t flee at all… (After reviewing the video and sequence of events, I’m not sure what story I believe at this point.)

(For all HN knows, the patient could have been stuffed into a vehicle and taken away to avoid controversy for this embattled needle exchange program. It would not be the first time HN has observed individuals trying to cover up an overdose scene. On one occasion, HN filmed individuals trying to stuff an unresponsive OD patient into a taxi cab. Their actions could have killed the patient. Thankfully, the cab driver refused and police arrived soon after to save the man’s life! It was all documented on HN video. You may click here to view that HN footage. )

(The initial call at 428 South Street said there was an overdose, and also mentioned something about it possibly being inside or to the rear of the needle exchange building. But then again, maybe a psychological episode was mistaken as an overdose like the employee professes… Who knows, that’s why HN documents these emergency scenes with video. The actual truth usually comes out eventually. Viewers much more intelligent than I will be interpreting this footage and other details related to this call… and they will be drawing their own educated conclusions.)

During today’s encounter, both employees expressed not being particularly thrilled I had showed up in front of their needle exchange, which was recently granted a one week reprieve to operate after putting the fear of a lawsuits in the hearts of our town leaders…

Bottom line… After meeting a couple of the program’s reps, I did not get the feeling this “public health” organization gave a rat’s ass about the people of my neighborhood and hometown.

A program employee pleaded with HN not to show the following footage… but I don’t see how I could hide this video from my viewers. I have a responsibility to my family, friends, neighbors, and greater community… and I am truly concerned about the ongoing and developing dangers that threaten the people I care about.

It’s not unusual for some hard working family man or woman to tell me they are planning on leaving Hyannis due to the aforementioned issues… What will happen when all the hard working young families flee Hyannis, leaving behind a giant outpatient ward?

People need to wake up and take a stand. There will be a Board of Health Meeting looking into and ultimately deciding the fate of the 428 South Street needle exchange next Tuesday, November 10th, at 3:00PM. The public is welcome.. and in fact encouraged to attend!

(If you care about Hyannis, its children and families, please share this information with everyone within your circle of influence. We need to put an end to this nonsense.)

The following video highlights today’s brief unfortunate encounter that could have gone much smoother, but didn’t…

For those who need to be brought up to date on this issue, I’ve also included two additional videos of the recent Board of Health meeting which granted temporary permission for the needle exchange to operate for the time being.

[Press play… Select HN in the settings and enlarge player for best quality…]

Excerpt from the November 4th Board of Health Meeting… Detective Brian Guiney provides testimony related to the investigation which led to the initial closure of the 428 South Street needle exchange.