Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jul 2003
Source: The Rock Island Argus (IL)
Section: Q-C Area
Page C3
Copyright: 2003 Moline Dispatch Publishing Company, L.L.C
Contact:  http://www.qconline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1392
Author: Scott Reeder, Dispatch/Argus Springfield Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE PURCHASES LEGAL IN ILLINOIS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION

Springfield -- Illinois addicts needing clean needles need go no farther 
than their corner pharmacy, thanks to a bill signed Friday by Gov. Rod 
Blagojevich.

Patients previously needed a prescription from a doctor to buy a hypodermic 
needle.  Now pharmacists can sell needles to anyone older than 18 who wants 
them.

Opponents fear the new law will increase the numbers of improperly 
discarded needles on the street.

Supporters contend that it will make needle sharing less likely. Needle 
sharing contributes to the spread of AIDS and other blood-borne diseases.

"A syringe is very precious to an addict," said Beth Wehrman, program 
director for Lifeguard Harm Reduction Services, a Quad-Cities organization 
that among other things provides clean needles to addicts.

"Once an addict has a clean needle, they take good care of it.  They clean 
it.  They sharpen it.  They use it until it can't be used anymore.  It's 
not like they throw it away after one use," she said.

In fact, Peoria pharmacist Mike Minesinger said other states that allow for 
non-prescription purchases of needles have had fewer problems with 
carelessly discarded needles.

Mr. Minesinger, who served on a Senate task force examining the issue, said 
addicts are less likely to carelessly discard needles when encountering a 
police officer in a park or elsewhere if they can legally possess the needle.

He added the new law allows for a pharmacist to sell as many as 20 needles, 
but it does not require a druggist to make the sale.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom