Pubdate: Thu, 31 May 2007
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2007 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Jordan Schrader
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE PILOT PROGRAM DROPPED

RALEIGH -- Lawmakers dropped a needle exchange program as quickly as if
they had been pricked.

Programs giving clean needles to intravenous drug users in exchange
for used ones made it into the state House and Senate budget plans.
But the Senate on Wednesday followed the House's lead in discarding
them before passing a budget. Sen. Martin Nesbitt, who championed the
plan in the Senate, pointed out that legislators would surely rush to
support treatments for other diseases.

"But when we look at the No. 1 consensus way to control the spread of
AIDS," the Buncombe County Democrat said, "we all dive under our
chairs." The programs are aimed at reducing the risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Nesbitt's plan would have the state health
director authorize up to three pilot programs in communities where
local officials agree. Participants would have immunity from
prosecution under laws banning drug paraphernalia.

Opponents said the programs would amount to a government endorsement
of drug use. Sen. James Forrester said the only way to curb the spread
of AIDS is through sex education. Giving needles to drug addicts is
"like giving a kid who likes to start fires matches," the Gaston
County Republican said. To the contrary, said Michael Harney,
coordinator of the Needle Exchange Program of Asheville, people who
use the program are trying to leave drugs behind. Some are on a
waiting list for treatment.

Harney delivers or mails them sterile needles, alcohol swabs,
bandages, tourniquets and even drug cookers, he said -- all in
violation of state law. "Until we get off our moral high horses,"
Harney said of lawmakers, "we are really being immoral."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake