The consequences of blue lights in public washrooms

March 19, 2019

Blue lights are sometimes installed in publicly-accessible washrooms to discourage injecting drug use but have several unintended consequences.

Recommendation

Fraser Health recommends against placing blue lights in publicly-accessible
washrooms.

Blue lights are unlikely to deter injecting drug use and may increase associated
harms including blood borne virus transmission, injecting related injury and
disease, and overdose. They may also reduce health and safety among the broader
community.

Discussion

• Blue lights are unlikely to prevent injecting drug use in publicly-accessible
  washrooms. While the lights reduce vein visibility, evidence indicates people
  will attempt to inject under blue lights when they feel confident in their
  injecting ability and where there are no suitable alternatives.
• Blue lights increase risks associated with injecting drug use. They promote
  unsafe practices such as deep vein injecting, which can be done without
  visual identification of the vein. People attempting to inject under blue lights
  may accidently inject into an artery or into surrounding tissue. They may
  have trouble measuring and monitoring the amount they are injecting,
  thereby increasing overdose risk. Poor visibility increases the risk of blood
  borne virus transmission as it is harder to see and clean up any blood or
  bodily fluids.
• The installation of blue lights in publicly-accessible washrooms may lead to
  increased drug use in public places including nearby stairwells, alleys and
  parks. This affects perceptions of public safety, and compounds the shame
  experienced by many people who inject drugs.
• Blue lights compromise health and safety for all washroom users as they
  reduce visibility, increase risk of trips and falls, make it harder to see and
  clean up hazardous waste, and prevent community members from carrying
  out basic personal hygiene, such as identifying changes in eye or skin tone,
  or the presence of blood or discoloration in bodily fluids.

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