Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 Source: Times, The (Trenton, NJ) Copyright: 2008 The Times Contact: http://www.nj.com/times/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458 Author: George Amick Cited: Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/stateoffices/newjersey/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) A KINDER, SMARTER WAR ON DRUGS The state of New Jersey has begun to recognize that drug addiction should be treated primarily as a medical problem, not a crime. Its change in attitude is having some positive effects. Four cities are taking advantage of hard-won permission from the state to try to stem the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases by making clean syringes available to drug users. Trenton isn't one of the cities, unfortunately, although it has kept open the option to join them later. The capital is set to benefit, however, from a related shift in state policy that has made more dollars available to help users overcome their addiction. Trenton will be one of four locations for state- funded mobile units that will dispense methadone and suboxone for maintenance treatment and detoxification. The mobile units have been purchased by the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services at a cost of $250,000 each and will be operated with state grants of $1.2 million a year to each host municipality. They will set up shop in sites that are convenient to substance abusers who have no money or insurance but who want help in breaking the grip of drugs. The Trenton unit will be run by NHS Human Services, a Pennsylvania- based nonprofit group, and will open its doors later this year, after the City Council has enacted some necessary ordinances. Like the other units, it will contain doctors' offices, computers and lab facilities, a confidential counseling office, a client waiting area and lavatory, and safes for storing medication. As for the state's four clean-needle pilot programs, they "are operating on a shoestring, but they're operating," said Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance and a leader in the 13- year battle to win legislative approval for a government-supervised needle exchange. Until 19 months ago, New Jersey -- despite its reputation as one of the nation's most progressive states -- was the only state that denied addicts any legal way to obtain clean needles. Its laws banned both needle-exchange programs and over-the-counter sale of syringes. Not surprisingly, New Jersey also has been among the states hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, particularly among women and infants. In December 2006, the Legislature enacted and Gov. Jon Corzine signed a law authorizing up to six cities to conduct carefully monitored pilot programs by which drug users could exchange dirty syringes for clean ones. So far, Newark, Atlantic City, Camden and Paterson have implemented such programs. They serve a total of some 800 clients, with Atlantic City leading the way with 361, and have distributed tens of thousands of clean needles. Jersey City has enacted the necessary enabling ordinance but doesn't have a program yet. A slot remains open for the sixth municipality. "The programs are going very well," said Scotti. "I visit these four cities, and it's amazing to me to see them in operation after all this time. It's wonderful." Because winning legislative approval of even a modest pilot needle- exchange program was so difficult, there was no hope that state funding for it also would be authorized. For that reason, the four pilot programs are serving only a fraction of their potential clientele. But the law did provide $10 million a year for inpatient and outpatient drug-abuse treatment and outreach. The money will be used in several ways, including vouchers that will enable addicts to select treatment providers that best accommodate their needs. It's also the source of the funds for the mobile medication units in Trenton, Atlantic City, Camden and Paterson. In the last-named three cities, the units will be parked close to the cities' local clean-needle facilities, in keeping with findings cited by the Division of Addiction Services that "individuals in areas with needle-exchange programs have an increased likelihood of entering drug-treatment programs." "Should Trenton implement a needle-exchange program, the contract awardee for the mobile medication unit will situate in close proximity," the division said in a news release. Paterson actually has had its mobile unit up and running for nearly two months. Housed in a big white bus, the unit operates Monday through Saturday in two locations, parking at one spot in the morning and the other in the afternoon. In addition to providing the methadone and suboxone that relieve addicts' craving for heroin without delivering the "high," Paterson's mobile unit also provides medical screenings, including HIV testing, and counsels clients on finding housing and jobs and resolving family problems. "After an almost overwhelming response, organizers had to cap the number of new clients and start a waiting list," reported The Herald News of Passaic County. "Today, the [mobile center] has about 30 people on that waiting list until a new drug counselor is hired. ... The bus staff must refer those interested to other drug treatment centers or -- in the worst case -- to the free needle-exchange program." When the Legislature finally authorized needle exchange in the last session, it left an important piece of business unfinished. A companion bill would have allowed pharmacies to sell small quantities of syringes to adults without a prescription. The bill would have been an important additional weapon against AIDS, as well as a convenience for diabetics and others with diseases that require self-administered injections. It passed the Assembly twice, but died in the Senate Health Committee. The same measure has been re-introduced by Sens. Joseph Vitale, D- Woodbridge, the Health Committee chairman; Nia Gill, D-Newark, and Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck. "That's strong sponsorship," said the Drug Policy Alliance's Scotti. Speaking for the bill's many advocates in the public-health community, she added: "We hope to go back to the Legislature in the fall and finish the job." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake