Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jan 2003
Source: Trenton Times, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2003 The Times
Contact:  http://www.njo.com/times/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458
Author: Karen Ayres

LAWMAKER TO INTRODUCE BILL LEGALIZING NEEDLE POSSESSION

TRENTON - A state law barring possession of hypodermic syringes without a 
prescription could be overturned under a proposal put forth by a local 
lawmaker and aimed at curbing AIDS.

State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton Borough, said yesterday he 
plans to introduce a bill in the next several weeks that would legalize 
needle possession.

The measure would allow New Jersey residents to buy needles over the 
counter at pharmacies and would also permit social service agencies to 
distribute clean needles to drug users.

Gusciora said the program is aimed at controlling the outbreak of AIDS, as 
more than half of the state's 42,000 AIDS cases were caused by addicts 
sharing needles.

"Unless we deal with the intravenous drug problem in this state, we are not 
going to combat AIDS any further," Gusciora said. Right now, it is illegal 
to possess hypodermic syringes without a prescription.

Gusciora announced his intentions yesterday during a conference call 
sponsored by the Drug Policy Alliance, which opened an office in Trenton 
last year.

Roseanne Scotti, director of the alliance's New Jersey Drug Policy Project, 
said New Jersey is one of only six states that require a prescription to 
buy a hypodermic needle.

But New Jersey lawmakers have historically balked at needle-exchange 
programs. Some critics say the government should not foster drug use by 
providing needles while others say it sets a bad example for children. 
Gusciora has another bill to establish a needle-exchange program funded by 
the state now pending in the legislature. But he said the program hasn't 
received much bipartisan support.

"Republicans and Democrats are concerned about sending the message we 
somehow are supporting drug use," Gusciora said. "That is an error, but 
sometimes perception is the rule."

Gusciora and his fellow sponsor, Assemblyman Alfred Steele, D-Paterson, 
said they hope this measure will be viewed more favorably since it is 
essentially self-funding.

"It's a matter of saving lives," Steele said. States that support 
needle-exchange programs often distribute information about drug 
rehabilitation along with the needles while social service agencies 
advocate getting off drugs when they go out into the community to 
distribute needles, Scotti said. Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the 
alliance, said he is optimistic minor reforms to the state's drug policy 
could happen in the near future.

"It may be the case that New Jersey's drug policy has resulted in more 
death and suffering than drug use itself," Nadelmann said. Gov. James E. 
McGreevey has voiced support for a limited needle exchange program in the past.
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