Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) Copyright: 2005 Courier-Post Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) GET OUT OF THE WAY OF NEEDLE EXCHANGE Clean needles for intravenous drug users has been proven to slow the spread of AIDS. Such programs must move forward in Camden and Atlantic City. The small group of legislators who have successfully blocked needle-exchange programs in Camden and Atlantic City from beginning July 1 are doing a tremendous disservice to the people of those communities. Frankly, they ought to quit meddling in something that really isn't their business. In an effort to combat the spread of AIDS and other deadly blood-borne diseases, Camden and Atlantic City were ready to launch pilot programs next month to put clean needles in the hands of intravenous drug users. The sharing of dirty needles is one of the main ways in which AIDS has spread in New Jersey. And the state has one of the highest AIDS rates in the nation. New Jersey had been one of just two states in the nation - Delaware is the other - not to allow access to clean needles before Gov. James E. McGreevey last year signed an executive order to allow pilot needle-exchange programs in Camden, Atlantic City and another city yet to be finalized. But as a result of a lawsuit filed late last year by state Sens. Thomas Kean Jr., R-Westfield, Union County, and Ronald Rice, D-Newark, and Assemblymen Joe Pennacchio, R-Montville, Morris County, and Eric Munoz, R-Summit, Union County, a state appeals court issued an injunction last week preventing the needle-exchange programs from beginning, at least until the matter is decided by the courts. These lawmakers are dead wrong in their opposition on the grounds that providing clean needles will encourage intravenous drug use. In the 48 other states that allow access to clean needles, drug use has not escalated because of access and the spread of the AIDS virus is slowing. And some drug users in other states have taken advantage of needle programs to find counseling or rehabilitation services, as well as protect themselves and their loved ones from being infected with AIDS. It's sad these lawmakers, none of whom represent Camden or Atlantic City residents, think upholding a sort of zero-tolerance stand in the war on drugs is more important than stopping the spread of AIDS and other fatal diseases that are exacting a terrible toll in impoverished communities in this state. These lawmakers ought to stop standing in the way of a program that could save countless lives and millions of dollars in medical care for AIDS patients. They ought to drop this ridiculous lawsuit immediately. Visit (http://courierpostonline.com/news/opinion) to contact your representatives in Trenton. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth