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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom