Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jun 2006
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www.boston.com/globe/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n727/a07.html
Author: Robert Heimer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Note: The writer is an associate professor in the department of 
epidemiology and public health at Yale University.

DATA SUPPORT LEGAL SYRINGE ACCESS

IN "MASS. Senate OKs sale of syringes" (Page A1, June 8), opponents 
of legalizing over-the-counter sales did not produce any evidence for 
their opinions. In fact, the evidence supports legalization. Our 
studies have found that public discard of syringes in Springfield, 
Mass., a city without any legal nonprescription access , was much 
higher than in Hartford or New Haven , cities with legal access 
through pharmacies.

Public discard is higher in Springfield precisely because possession 
is illegal; injectors discard their syringes publicly to avoid arrest 
or harassment for such possession. In fact, when legal access to 
syringes was reduced in Willimantic, Conn., public discard increased.

Other studies have repeatedly found no correlation between laws 
restricting syringe access and the number of injection drug users in 
a municipality. No study has reported a linkage between 
liberalization of syringe access and an increase in drug injection.

Clearly, legal syringe access does not send the wrong message and 
thereby encourage drug abuse. Instead, it sends the right message 
about protecting the health of all citizens, even those addicted to 
injectable drugs.

ROBERT HEIMER

New Haven

The writer is an associate professor in the department of 
epidemiology and public health at Yale University.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman