Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2014
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2014 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Roger Good

NEEDLES AND SYRINGES

EDITOR: It has come to my attention that there is a law in California 
that allows pharmacies to sell up to 30 syringes and needles to 
anyone 18 or older. The pharmacy is not required to check ID or keep 
a log of purchasers.

I have witnessed kids going into a chain pharmacy in Rincon Valley 
and buying syringes and needles. No questions asked. No ID required. 
The kids I saw were clearly younger than 18.

As one who worked as a professional in the addictions field, I'm 
blown away. Injecting drugs intravenously is a path to a serious 
addiction. Heroin, opiates, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and 
some others can be taken intravenously. Intravenous drug users have 
the hardest time kicking their addiction. The addictive behavior is 
not confined to the feeling the drug produces, the ritual of 
"shooting up" is addictive as well.

The law must require those who buy syringes and needles to register 
and provide proof that they are indeed adults. This law is poorly 
thought out and has the potential to cause many heartbreaks and 
destruction of many young lives.

ROGER GOOD

Santa Rosa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom