Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2005
Source: Herald News (NJ)
Copyright: 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northjersey.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2911
Author: Tom Meagher
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NO NEEDLE EXCHANGE IN PATERSON

PATERSON - Mayor Joey Torres has chosen not to apply to set up a 
needle-exchange program aimed at curbing the spread of HIV by offering drug 
addicts sterile syringes.

Paterson, the state's third-largest city, also counts the third-largest 
number of HIV and AIDS cases, more than a third of which were caused by 
intravenous drug users sharing dirty syringes, according to state Health 
Department statistics.

Torres claimed Tuesday that, although the city's health officer and the 
county's HIV planning council have favored needle exchanges, he decided not 
to apply for a state pilot program permitting needle exchanges, because he 
did not have the input of his constituents.

"As a policy maker, I do understand the argument that was made by our 
health-care professionals," Torres said. "I will not do it without taking 
it to the public."

Torres also said he personally opposes the controversial needle exchanges 
that critics argue enable drug abuse by putting syringes in the hands of 
abusers.

As one of his last acts in office, Gov. James E. McGreevey signed an 
executive order permitting the state Department of Health and Senior 
Services to set up needle exchanges in three municipalities. State law bars 
the distribution of needles without a doctor's prescription.

Last week, the department chose Camden and Atlantic City to host the 
exchange programs. Paterson, whose 1,668 HIV-infected adults outnumber 
those in Camden and Atlantic City combined, was one of nine cities invited 
to apply for the program. In order to qualify, in addition to submitting an 
application, the city would have had to adopt an ordinance permitting a 
needle exchange.

Last fall, City Councilman Ken Morris crafted a resolution endorsing 
McGreevey's order and asking that Paterson be allowed to play host to one 
of the exchanges. Because the resolution was non-binding, it did not 
qualify for the state's application.

Morris said Tuesday that he did not know the city needed to apply for the 
program. He thought the state would simply choose the cities it wanted to 
participate. He said no one in Paterson government informed him of the need 
to apply.

"I would have liked to have seen a needle exchange piloted here," Morris 
said. "If it needed an ordinance, I don't think that it would have been a 
problem."

State Epidemiologist Eddy Bresnitz said Tuesday he hopes the needle 
exchanges in Atlantic City and Camden could begin operating within weeks. 
He hopes that the pilot exchanges will show how such programs work. As it 
was written, McGreevey's order expires at the end of December. Unless the 
governor issues another order, or the Legislature passes a long-stalled 
needle-exchange bill, the programs will end then.

By missing the deadline and failing to apply, Paterson may have lost its 
chance to secure a legal needle-exchange program in the future.

Jerry Dillard, the executive director of the Council on AIDS at the Passaic 
County Resource Center, said he was surprised to learn Paterson did not 
apply. Intravenous drug use continues to be the primary form of 
transmission of HIV in the city and the county. He said he has also seen 
more young suburban adults injecting drugs lately.

"This definitely reaches beyond the borders of Paterson and Passaic," 
Dillard said. "I think it's really unfortunate that this area will not have 
access to that type of program."

Torres said he still intends to talk to city residents about 
needle-exchange programs in an open forum or town hall meeting, although 
none on needle exchanges has been scheduled.

"It has to be, from my perspective, a decision that is not done because I 
am the chief executive officer of the city or my health officer says its 
done in another town. It has to be embraced by the community," Torres said. 
"I'm not so sure if all the residents of the city of Paterson are clearly 
up to par on the educational side, so they can make an educated decision."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman