Pubdate: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury News Contact: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: Kaye Ross, staff writer STUDY SUGGESTS DOCTORS GIVE ADDICTS SYRINGES SAN FRANCISCO -- Physicians can protect patients and fight the spread of HIV by prescribing syringes to illegal drug users, according to a study published Tuesday in Annals of Internal Medicine. Co-written by Daniel Abrahamson of the Lindesmith Center in San Francisco, the study says needle sharing is the major vector for the spread of HIV in the United States, as well as a significant contributor to increased rates of hepatitis and other fatal conditions. The study makes a strong case that syringe prescription is a ``medical necessity'' and an important part of a comprehensive strategy to control the negative health outcomes associated with illegal drug use, according to a Lindesmith Center spokesman. Compiled by Kaye Ross, Mercury News, from staff and wire reports. - --- MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst