'They be shooting that much dope around here?' People react to seeing sea of orange caps and needles on subway tracks
Orange caps and needles cover the tracks at the Tremont Avenue subway station. People say the drug use has become a serious problem, with people injecting themselves in the middle of the station.
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Orange caps and needles cover the tracks at the Tremont Avenue subway station.
People say drug use has become a serious problem, with people injecting themselves in the middle of the station.
News 12 cameras captured two people slumped over, one of them injecting drugs, inside the station at 11 a.m.
"They be shooting that much dope around here?" asked subway rider Richard Smith, after taking one look at the tracks.
When asked if he had seen a station in similar condition before, he responded, "No, not like that at all."
Some needles were also visible on the platform, raising concerns about safety for people walking through the station, especially kids.
"It's a negative situation," one person said. "It shows that we have a drug problem that really needs to be addressed."
Abel Garcia, who identified himself as homeless, said he was frustrated by the mess left behind by others who use needles.
"Personally, I'm disgusted with the fact that the guys that use the needles don't pick up their own stuff and take it away with them," said Garcia.
He said he uses drugs, but doesn't use needles. He said every time he uses drugs, he makes sure to clean up after himself and tells others to do the same. But he says they don't listen.
"I don't like to leave a mess. Period. I'm just not a messy person. I'm homeless. Not a savage," he said.
Police told News 12 that in the past 28 days, officers made 52 arrests, issued 185 summonses, and conducted over 300 station inspections at this location. A spokesperson went on to say cops continue to monitor quality-of-life and crime conditions.
The Department of Social Services said outreach teams regularly visit the station to connect people experiencing homelessness or addiction with resources.
The MTA, which handles track maintenance, said station cleaners remove drug paraphernalia according to health protocols.
