Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) Copyright: 2004 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340 Author: John Curran, Associated Press Cited: Prevention Point Philadelphia http://www.critpath.org/ppp/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) A.C. AUTHORIZES NEEDLE EXCHANGE The vote set a precedent in defiance of state law. Camden, too, is considering starting a program. ATLANTIC CITY - Casting themselves as defiant do-gooders - and flouting a state ban - the City Council voted yesterday to enact New Jersey's first municipally operated needle exchange. By a 7-1 vote, with one abstention, the council authorized city health officials to distribute syringes to intravenous drug users to help stem the spread of blood-borne illnesses such as HIV and hepatitis C. The program could be operating by this fall, said Ron Cash, city director of health and human services, with health officials handing out syringes from a van that already takes medical services into the community. "This is the moral, human and correct thing to do," Council President Craig Callaway said. Camden's City Council also is considering such a program, and a vote is expected soon. Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz and state officials have said they will take steps, if necessary, to enforce the state's needle law - - which bans giveaways. Critics say needle giveaways do little to address the drug problem, instead encouraging or condoning high-risk behavior by drug addicts. But many in Atlantic City believe that the number of residents infected with HIV - one of every 40 people - argues for a government initiative to curb addict reuse of syringes. "We're in a city where HIV is at epidemic levels," said resident Marguerite Burgess, 35. "At this rate, the community is slowly dying. This is not about condoning the behavior - but if they're going to do it, let's be safe about it." The vote came after 10 speakers urged approval. Among them were Camden activist Frank Fulbrook and Camden Councilman Ali Sloan El. "It's a pathetic situation we have in this state, where trying to save lives is a crime," Fulbrook said. Alison McCray, syringe exchange program coordinator for Prevention Point Philadelphia, an AIDS service organization, said HIV infection rates had dropped dramatically in Philadelphia since the program began in 1991. "It's a public health issue that affects the entire population," said McCray, who was present for the vote with about 20 other people from her organization. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake