Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jul 2004
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2004 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

CLEAN NEEDLES SAVE LIVES

THE NUMBERS are startling. More than 26,000 Californians have AIDS - and 
every year another 1,000 people are added to that list when they become 
infected from sharing dirty syringes. Septic needles cause 20 percent of 
the state's AIDS cases: That's 37 percent of the cases in women and 24 
percent in African Americans.

The hepatitis C data are just as daunting. The disease adds 3,000 new cases 
a year to the estimated 600,000 Californians already infected - all due to 
needle sharing, according to the state Department of Health Services.

The cost is staggering, especially in lost and disrupted lives. Taxpayers 
spend millions of dollars to treat the afflicted, each averaging about 
$20,000 a year in health-care costs.

Studies show this can be prevented, without increased crime or drug use, if 
pharmacists in the state sold clean needles without prescriptions -- as 
they do in 45 other states.

SB1159 by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, would allow the sale of up 
to 10 clean syringes without a prescription to those 18 or older. The 
provisions of the bill would sunset in 2008, pending assessments by health 
and police officials.

Medical groups, the elderly and, according to a poll of likely voters, 59 
percent of Californians, support SB1159 to save money and lives. It's 
sensible policy that's working elsewhere and deserves to be tried here.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake