Empty drug packaging and drug paraphernalia left on the pavement has left Avenues resident, Elize Filotto, concerned about drug use in the community.
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Filotto said she found packaging, syringes, needles and vials, on August 9, strewn on the ground around a dustbin on the corner of De Wet Street and Seventh Avenue.
When Filotto found the litter and syringes she said her stomach churned.
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“How could someone dump this in a public bin? There are rubbish collectors and children who sometimes dig in the bins,” said Filotto.
She explained that this was her first discovery of this kind in her neighborhood.
“Looking at all the litter one would think the area is a drug haven. It really makes you worry,” said a concerned Filotto.
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She said when she looked at the packaging it was labeled Pethidine, a drug similar to morphine.
On the packaging, the manufacturing date was February 2017.
“I spoke to a local pharmacist and was told that it is a schedule six drug which is difficult to get hold of.”
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Amongst the packaging, Filotto found small bank bags which she believes had CAT in it.
She believes whoever was using the drug is a heavy drug user.
Filotto said because the drug is schedule six medicine, she wonders how people got their hands on it.
“The amount of drugs here could overdose someone,” she added.
But besides her concern of drug use itself, Filotto said she is concerned for the community’s safety.
It is her belief that a child could have injured themselves if they had found the garbage and played with it.
Acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Sgt Jacob Mashile, urged community members to report all drug related activities to the SAPS or EMPD.
“Community members must not touch anything until law officials arrive as some of the drug users may have chronic diseases,” said Mashile.
He said community members can report similar incidents to 08600 10111 and 011 553 8600.
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