Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2013
Source: Daily Reporter, The (Columbus, OH)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Reporter
Contact:  http://www.thedailyreporteronline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4774
Author: Tiffany L. Parks

LAWMAKERS PARTNER TO CHAMPION SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

A bipartisan bill from Reps. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, and Barbara 
Sears, R-Maumee, would authorize the establishment of syringe 
exchange programs.

House Bill 92 has been crafted to "promote harm reduction and a path 
to treatment," Antonio said.

Under the bill, a local board of health would be permitted to 
establish a syringe exchange program for injection drug users to 
reduce the transmission of blood-borne pathogens and specifies that 
the program's cost is the board's responsibility.

The measure would allow a board of health to contract with a private, 
nonprofit organization to operate a program on the board's behalf.

"This bill before you is the result of work that was begun in 
sub-committee in the 129th General Assembly," Antonio recently 
testified before the House Health and Aging committee.

"A bipartisan group of health committee members chaired by Rep. Sears 
worked through the summer of 2011 and brought forward a sub bill."

That measure, HB 182, was jointly sponsored by Antonio and Rep. Mike 
Foley, D-Cleveland. The proposal stalled after being reported out of 
the House Health and Aging Committee.

Antonio said syringe exchange programs could stem the tide of new 
instances of HIV/AIDS.

"From 1981-91, HIV claimed more lives than both the Korean and 
Vietnam wars combined," she said. "It was the beginning of a global 
pandemic that touched every corner of the planet including Ohio."

As a result of the rise of HIV/AIDS, The Free Medical Clinic of 
Greater Cleveland implemented a syringe exchange program in 1995.

Danny R. Williams, executive director of The Free Clinic, previously 
offered the clinic's support for the bill's provisions.

"This legislation, designed to more broadly authorize the 
establishment of syringe exchange programs around the state, is a 
much-needed provision that will help to stem the spread of a variety 
of blood-borne diseases," he said.

During its 2011 fiscal year, the clinic exchanged more than 116,000 needles.

"We at The Free Clinic wholeheartedly support this legislation," 
Williams said. "We are convinced that a broader utilization of 
syringe exchange programs will result in a lower incidence of 
HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases."

To his knowledge, Williams said The Free Clinic has operated the only 
authorized syringe exchange program in Ohio since its creation. The 
clinic provides one-for-one exchanges of clean needles for used 
needles to injection drug users and offers a range of medical 
services and referrals.

In addition to the possibility of lowering the rates of HIV/AIDS, 
Williams touted other benefits of establishing exchange programs.

"It will also increase the likelihood of appropriate referrals for 
treatment and raise the level of education among at-risk populations 
regarding the consequences of various high-risk behaviors," he said.

Megan Testa, who previously spent time as a physician volunteer for 
The Free Clinic's syringe exchange program, has also endorsed the 
proposed legislation.

Testa, who is now a physician practicing psychiatry in Cleveland, 
previously testified for the bill on behalf of the Ohio Psychiatric 
Physicians Association.

She said the association believes the measure is "long overdue."

"We have known for decades that syringe exchange is a very effective 
intervention for preventing the spread of HIV," she said. "Syringe 
exchange is a form of vector control, a science-based intervention 
from the field of public health."

Testa said vector control is when one removes an agent from an 
environment that is serving as a vector by which an infectious 
disease is passed from one host to the next.

"In the case of HIV, syringes are a critical vector for the virus 
that causes the disease. Science has shown that the HIV virus can 
survive in a syringe at room temperature for up to four weeks," she said.

"It is estimated that one-third of all new HIV infections are 
acquired as a result of injection drug use. Therefore, vector control 
through the simple act of exchanging sterile syringes for 
contaminated syringes makes good scientific sense."

Despite all of the scientific data in support of syringe exchange and 
the fact that organized medicine supports such intervention, Testa 
said there are very few syringe exchange programs in the U.S.

"One reason for this is because there are legislative and 
administrative barriers that interfere with the establishment of 
exchanges," she said.

"As a physician, I find it unfortunate that an intervention that is 
very effective in stopping the spread of HIV is not utilized because 
of legislative barriers. Furthermore, as a psychiatrist, I am very 
concerned that a powerful tool in the treatment of individuals with 
addictions is not being implemented."

Antonio said HB 92 addresses an important health issue that "creates 
critical consequences for Ohioans."

"Syringe exchange programs are an additional tool in the toolbox to 
prevent disease transmission, reduce harm and can often be the portal 
and pathway for those addicted to IV drugs to treatment and 
recovery," she said.

HB 92 is co-sponsored by Foley and Reps. John Rogers, D-Mentor, 
Michael Ashford, D-Toledo, Michael Stinziano, D-Columbus, Teresa 
Fedor, D-Toledo, Fred Strahorn, D-Columbus, Tim Brown, R-Bowling 
Green, and Tom Letson, D-Warren.

The bill has not been scheduled for additional hearings.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom