Pubdate: Fri, 13 Oct 2006
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2006 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Angela Delli Santi

N.J. NEEDLE BILL MOVES FORWARD

The Measure Would Grant Six Communities The Authority To Create Pilot 
Syringe-Exchange Programs

Trenton -- A measure aimed at curbing the spread of AIDS by supplying 
intravenous drug abusers with clean needles cleared the state Senate 
budget committee yesterday, moving the contentious bill farther along 
in the Senate than it has ever gone before.

New Jersey continues to be the only state in the nation that doesn't 
provide drug abusers access to sterile syringes.

State Sen. Nia Gill (D., Essex) noted New Jersey's "dubious 
distinction" yesterday while she lauded the bill's forward movement.

"It is scientifically undisputed that access to sterile syringes is 
an effective tool as part of a comprehensive plan to fight the spread 
of HIV-AIDS," Gill said.  "New Jersey has twice the rate of HIV 
infection resulting from shared needle use compared to the rest of the nation."

Specifically, the measure would grant six cities and towns, including 
Camden, the authority to create pilot syringe-exchange programs and 
would dedicate $10 million for drug treatment.  The six communities 
have not yet been named.

The bill is a compromise that lawmakers hammered out last month as 
the proposal was heard by a Senate health panel.  The original bill 
allowed an unlimited number of needle-access programs to be 
established but set aside no money for drug treatment.

Under the current proposal, the state would give no money for needle 
exchange.  The cities that set up programs would use their own money 
or seek grant funds through nonprofit agencies, said Roseanne Scotti, 
director of the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group.

Before it can become law, the measure must still be approved by the 
full Senate, then go through the Assembly and be signed by Gov. 
Corzine, who has said he would support it.  The Assembly passed a 
similar bill two years ago, but it got bogged down in the Senate.

Opponents contend that giving needles to drug abusers fuels addiction 
and its accompanying ills and fails to address social problems that 
contribute to drug addiction.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D., Camden) yesterday said he would 
shepherd two Assembly bills through the lower house.  One would allow 
municipalities to have needle exchange programs and the other would 
permit purchase of syringes without a prescription.  A similar 
nonprescription syringe measure stalled in the Senate health 
committee last month.
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