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