Pubdate: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 Source: Gloucester County Times (NJ) Copyright: 2004 Gloucester County Times Contact: http://www.gctimes.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1153 Author: Terrence Dopp Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) MCGREEVEY ORDERS NEEDLE PROGRAMS TRENTON - Gov. James E. McGreevey on Tuesday sidestepped an unwilling Legislature on attempts to block a proposal giving injection drug users legal access to sterile needles. Declaring a public health emergency, McGreevey signed an executive order establishing trial needle exchange programs for three cities with high AIDS rates, including Camden, Atlantic City and one more to be determined. Supporters see the contentious needle-swapping programs as a way to stem the spread of fatal blood-borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Legislation authorizing them statewide passed the Assembly earlier this month but stalled in the Senate Health Committee. "We've been unable to achieve consensus," said McGreevey, who leaves office Nov. 15. "This is not a political issue. This executive order will save lives." The order would use a health emergency in order to make an end run around the state's drug paraphernalia laws, which prohibit the syringes. Drug users would be allowed to exchange used needles for clean ones within the trial communities. New Jersey and Delaware are the only two states without laws granting drug users access to sterile needles. Throughout debate on the issue, supporters and detractors argued over a number of studies in cities such as Vancouver and Baltimore where needle exchanges have been tried. According to proponents the programs cut the spread of AIDS and HIV by 29 percent. The state Department of Health and Senior Services reported as of June 30 the Garden State logged 64,219 cases of HIV infection. Injection drug users, their partners or their children account for 51 percent of all infections, the agency reported. That rate is twice the national average. "It's puzzling and disappointing to me that so many people are against this. We have the AIDS and HIV deaths to prove we're on the wrong track here," said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, D-5 of Camden, who sponsored Assembly legislation allowing over-the-counter syringe sales and exchanges. Roberts said McGreevey's decision to unilaterally authorize needle swaps addressed a serious health crisis and patched over flaws in drug paraphernalia laws written before the age of AIDS. But Citizens Against Needle Exchange, an umbrella group representing 75 organizations against allowing users to trade in syringes, said it is weighing legal options to halt implementation of McGreevey's order. "Studies show that half of the needles given out in the programs don't come back. They are putting needles out on the street," said David Evans, a Flemington attorney affiliated with the group. "It does not cut down on needle sharing by addicts. They continue to do it." One of the prime backers of needle exchange legislation applauded McGreevey's action. "It would have been great had the Legislature moved forward but it looked stalled and something had to be done," said Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national group that has pushed for the initiative in the Garden State. McGreevey's order would need to be re-authorized by each incoming governor. Sen. Fred Madden, D-4 of Washington Township, questioned the legislation when it went before the health panel because he said it allowed drug users throughout the state to attain free needles within the communities conducting the exchange programs. Under the Tuesday order, communities would need to authorize the exchanges with a local ordinance but no residency requirements would govern who joins the programs. "The same questions I had about the bill still stand with the executive order," Madden, whose district lies minutes outside of Camden, said after the signing. "People from outside of Camden are going to go and join." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake