'Frightening stuff': Mother worried after dirty needles found in backyard

A mother in the Mundy Pond area of St. John's who found two needles and evidence of drug use in her backyard is speaking out about the 'frightening' situation and warning parents of the need to educate their children about drug use. 

Jennifer Stamp said the dirty needles and small metal cup were found by her partner Wednesday at lunchtime. She said the drug paraphernalia was on her back deck in the same area where her eight-year-old son often plays with his friends.

"It was left on my deck in my backyard ... and there was some residue left in the cup," she said. 

I've got like paranoia and I'm checking out in the night time to see if there's anybody back there.- Jennifer Stamp

Stamp said she is aware of drug use in the area, but said she's shocked that such evidence of drug use was left so close to her home. 

"It's frightening stuff. My biggest concern was, what would happen if my son was to have been the one who found this?"

"What if he had to come in the backyard and find somebody back there? What could have happened to him?"

Warning others

In a post shared on Facebook, Stamp pleaded with parents to teach their children how to identify needles and what to do when they spot them. 

She said she called police after finding the needles, and told CBC News that the RNC promised to send an extra patrol car to the area.

But she's still worried that it will happen again. "I've got like paranoia and I'm checking out in the night time to see if there's anybody back there."

Stamp said she doesn't blame or feel angry at the people for using drugs in her backyard, but wishes there were ways for them to get help or inject the drugs safely. 

"Maybe a safe injection site would be good, like so many other cities are now supplying."

"If someone had somewhere to go to do that, they wouldn't have to do it on my back step."