Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA) Copyright: 2005 New England Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/897 PROMOTING HEALTH, NOT DRUG USE It's hard to imagine, as has been suggested on Beacon Hill, that if syringes were made available over the counter at pharmacies more people would consider using drugs, but what is clear is that the spread of HIV and other blood-borne illnesses would be diminished. For that reason Massachusetts lawmakers made a wise decision to expand access to clean needles when the House passed the measure. It makes sense to encourage drug users to take sanitary precautions to avoid deadly illnesses that could be transmitted to people they come in contact with, and we hope the governor will sign this measure into law. Massachusetts is one of the few states in the nation that has not done so, and the time has come. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin