NEW YORK - It is a pointy reminder of a drug abuse crisis, found in the tracks of a subway station in Upper Manhattan — used needles tossed in the middle of the tracks of the 1 train at the 181st Street station.

"When I leave work basically you see these guys with the needles injecting themselves and throwing the needles in the train tracks, basically doing a lot of crazy stuff," said one subway rider.

Dozens of used syringes and drug containers residues are scattered mainly at the end of the platforms, a safe place for addicts but a disturbing sight for passengers.

"I don't know what are they injecting so, you don't know if they are going to come to you and you never know what can happen," said one subway rider.

Neighbors say the situation worsens every winter when the underground stations become a warm refuge.

"Everything is funneled in and out of just this one spot so it is really easy for people to just hide out in some other area," said one Washington Heights resident.

In a statement, the MTA says it is an issue that should be addressed "compassionately" and adds, "Our new station management and other personnel have repeatedly raised this very concerning issue with the nearby mobile needle distribution program and our NYPD partners, and we’re deeply dismayed that this issue has persisted."

The CORNER Project in Washington Heights, an organization that for over a decade has been distributing and exchanging syringes for addicts in the neighborhood says increasing homelessness is adding to the problem. 

"We are note able to go on the tracks so that is a regulation that the MTA had so all we can do in the current moment is clean the subway station and the platforms but we are not allowed to get on to the tracks," said Adrian Feliciano of the CORNER Project.

Last year, the homeless population in New York City neared 80,000 according to Department of Housing and Urban Development. That number has been increasing steadily over the last 10 years.