NEW ORLEANS — They're the last thing you want to see when you take some time to relax at the park.
Dirty, used needles are being found in the bathrooms and by the water fountains at Crescent Park in the French Market district.
"We don't want this park to be taken over by drug users and needles," said Venus Masakowski who walks her dog, Ollie, through Crescent Park at least twice a week. "It's an urban oasis. I love sitting there at sunset on the swings and watching the boats go by."
Over the past few months, she's noticed needles on the bathroom floor and even witnessed one woman injecting herself with drugs in the bathroom.
"It's becoming a problem," Masakowski said. "A group of transient, homeless looking people hanging around exchanging little packages, running into the bathroom."
Wednesday, Ollie picked up a needle with his mouth.
"I look down and he had a needle in his mouth, a hypodermic needle and I completely freaked out," Masakowski said.
It didn't stick him, but she told security.
"He said they were aware of the problem, but they were short handed," she said.
The French Market Corporation said they are also aware of the problem and are now looking into installing safe needle disposal boxes as one way to address it. They add, crews sweep the bathroom floors several times a day.
"I think it is a health crisis," Masakowski said.
One woman who didn't want to be identified, said seeing the needles so frequently makes her want to do more to help these drug users.
"I walk my dog in the neighborhood all the time and we find a lot of needles and orange caps," the woman said.
Walking past needles on the ground is a daily reminder for her of a greater problem.
"My son died of an overdose last August and I feel perhaps if his friends had had Narcan on them, maybe he'd be alive today not sure," she said.
She wishes Narcan was more readily available.
"It's a problem. I feel like we're losing a whole generation of young people," she said.
The French Market Corporation said there isn't much they can do to stop drug users from using in the bathroom, but they hope if they install needle disposal boxes, others will be safer from the risk of being stuck.
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