Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jun 2002
Source: New York Daily News (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Daily News, L.P.
Contact:  http://www.nydailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/295
Author: CELESTE KATZ

NEEDLE ACCESS DIFFICULT IN BX.

Most Drugstores Shun Program

People trying to buy syringes without a prescription at Bronx pharmacies 
should be prepared to shop around - and sometimes, to get the runaround, a 
new study finds.

As part of a study by the New York Academy of Medicine, monitors visited 
about 90 pharmacies participating in the state's Expanded Syringe Access 
Demonstration Program. The program's goal is to curb the spread of disease 
among intravenous drug users.

Overall, monitors were able to buy syringes at 69% of the pharmacies 
visited citywide. But it was tough going in the Bronx, where they came away 
from 67% of the pharmacies empty-handed.

"I was very concerned by it. It's certainly not because there's no need. 
There's a very strong need for this item," said study director Dr. Ruth 
Finkelstein. "The Bronx has a very large number of active [drug] injectors 
and associated HIV infection."

By comparison, monitors were unable to get syringes at 33% of the Queens 
pharmacies, 28% in Brooklyn, 16% of the Manhattan pharmacies and 11% in 
Staten Island.

Even when they could buy needles, monitors often first had to give personal 
information, or answer "probing" questions about the purchase, the report 
found.

As of mid-March, 2,458 health providers and pharmacies were registered with 
the syringe program, said Finkelstein, director of the Academy's Office of 
Special Populations. Of those, 867 were in the five boroughs.

"In New York State, most HIV transmission is from, or has been from, needle 
sharing or people having sex with someone infected by needle sharing," said 
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the syringe law. 
"The reason addicts share needles is simply because needles were only 
available on the black market at black market prices."

Potential for Good

The study found that "syringe monitors were only able to successfully buy 
syringes, without inappropriate questions and with a safety insert and 
disposal information upon request, in 7% of the pharmacy visits."

Despite such problems, Finkelstein said the program "has a lot of good 
potential to decrease the transmission of HIV and other bloodborne disease, 
and to improve syringe disposal." Extra training could help, she said.

A Health Department spokesman said the state already has undertaken 
training programs with pharmacies and community groups, adding, "Studies by 
other groups will certainly be considered. If they point out areas that can 
be addressed immediately, we will do that."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart