A safety warning has been issued following the discovery of used drug needles in Moray.
Members of the public are being informed of the potentially dangerous finds in Forres, with kit also found in recent months in Elgin and Lossiemouth.
Health experts will visit Forres on Saturday to raise awareness about drug safety, testing and treatment of blood borne viruses (BBVs), needle exchange services, and what to do if you come across drug injecting equipment.
Andy Jamieson, antisocial behaviour co-ordinator at Moray Council, said: “The majority of drug users do dispose of needles responsibly – they use the needle exchanges across Moray.
“But there are occasions when an unusually large number of needles are recovered from a single location. When an area is identified, the Community Safety Partnership look at how the issue can be resolved by implementing a number of strategies of which this session in Forres is one.
“Although we are delivering the session in Forres, equipment has been found throughout Moray and we want members of the public to be safe, so we’ll be advising that if you find discarded drug injecting equipment, don’t touch it and immediately report it to Moray Council.”
Laura Sutherland, the advanced area public health co-ordinator at NHS Grampian said authorities had been “made aware” of several incidents where drug injecting kit had been found by members of the public.
“Our visit to Forres is an opportunity to highlight local support services for testing and treatment of BBVs, equipment discarded in public places, as well as advising drug users and those close to them about the risks associated with injecting drugs, such as blood borne viruses.”
Anyone who finds discarded needles is asked to report it immediately to Moray Council on 01343 543451.