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Needle-exchange
program to begin
Five cities await
word on first of state pilot effort
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI,
AP from thnt.com Online, June 13, 2007
TRENTON — Some intravenous
drug abusers who live in New Jersey could begin getting clean needles before
summer's end as the state's first needle-exchange programs get under way.
The state Health Department is reviewing criteria from five cities that applied
to be part of a pilot needle exchange. A decision on all five — Atlantic
City, Camden, Newark, Paterson and Trenton — is expected soon, said Health
Department spokesman Tom Slater.
The first pilot projects should be up and running "we hope before summer's out,"
Slater said Tuesday.
Atlantic City and Camden are expected to establish the first programs, said
Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey, a group that
advocates for progressive drug policies. Both cities have long sought state
permission to start needle exchange programs to combat the rate of HIV/AIDS
infections and have both have worked out the logistics of running such program.
"They're ready to go," said Scotti.
New Jersey shed its status as the only state without a legal way for drug
addicts to get clean syringes when the Legislature and governor signed off on a
pilot program last year that allows up to six cities to establish needle
exchanges for a three-year trial.
To be eligible, a city has to have at least 300 HIV/AIDS cases attributable to
intravenous drug use per 100,000 residents and at least 350 confirmed HIV/AIDS
cases. Cities also must want the program. Paterson is scheduled to
vote on a city ordinance allowing syringe access Tuesday night; the Newark City
Council recently approved a similar measure.
Though 12 cities met the criteria, only five applied.
The other eligible cities are: Asbury Park, East Orange, Elizabeth,
Irvington, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Paterson and Plainfield.
"Once you get programs up and running, that's going to spark even more
interest," said Scotti. "I think there is a bit of residual concern that
it will be different here in New Jersey than in other places."
She said there is a "you go first" mentality among eligible cities.
New Jersey had 66,886 HIV/AIDS cases as of June 2006, the latest Health
Department figures available. Forty-three percent — 28,997 cases — were
attributable to injection drug use, about twice the national average.
Proponents like Scotti say research proves that providing addicts with clean
needles drastically cuts the transmission of HIV/AIDS through shared needles.
Opponents say needle exchange programs promote IV drug use and attract area drug
users to the places where needles are given out.
All the other states either have a needle-exchange program or one that allows
syringes to be sold without a prescription.
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