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.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin