Pubdate: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 Source: Denver Post (CO) Author: Ann Schrader and Peggy Lowe Denver Post Staff Writers Contact: http://www.denverpost.com COALITION IN SENATE OKS NEEDLE SWAPS An unusual coalition of Democrats and a few key Republicans in the Colorado Senate helped give preliminary approval Friday to legislation that would allow local governments to offer controversial needle exchange programs. The bill, SB 99, was carried by Denver Republican Dottie Wham. In November, the Denver City Council passed an ordinance allowing up to three needle exchanges to register and be monitored by the city if state law is amended. Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, who admitted in his July State of the City address that he had changed his position on the issue, applauded the Senate's vote. "I'm pleased that we're halfway there, and I certainly want to congratulate those legislators that were able to give another tool to be used in the fight against the spread of AIDS," Webb said Friday from Floriday, where he is attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. Other advocates hailed the passage of SB 99 as "excellent news." "This is as good as it gets," said Paul Simons, director of the HIV prevention group People Engaged in Education and Reduction Strategies. "A lot of courage was shown on the floor of the Senate today," Simons added. "They saw how this can have an effect on the spread of HIV. Needle exchanges can save lives and money." But critics vowed to continue fighting SB 99 if it wins final Senate approval Monday and moves to the House Judiciary Committee. "The message is that giving new needles to addicts is not going to guarantee they will stop sharing needles," said Les Langford, vice president of the Colorado Association of Police Chiefs. Langford said there should be an emphasis on educating addicts about "cleaning the needles they do have...I applaud their efforts to deal with the spread of AIDS, but they're going about it the wrong way." "We will work it the whole way," said Kirk Miller, legislative liaison for the Denver Police Protective Association, which also opposes the plan. "It's a health issue, but it's also a law enforcement issue. The state has basically provided the equivalent to commit a felony." Needle exchange programs in more than 70 communities across the nation are built around trading one sterile syringe for each used one. Blood-borne diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis B and C, can be spread by sharing needles. The bill would amend state drug paraphernalia laws to exempt health workers and participants from being arrested for possessing syringes if they have been issued program identification cards. The measure would also offer treatment and counseling. Wham fought opposition from conservative Republicans who said passage of the measure suggests that drug use is acceptable. "It's hard in my mind to say we're not legalizing drugs when we're legalizing the needle," said Sen. Ray Powers, R-Colorado Springs. But as the debate continued and Wham became increasingly angry, she insisted the bill was about public health and limiting the spread of the AIDS virus. "Let me make this perfectly clear," Wham said. "This bill does not legalize drugs." Wham, sarcastically adding that she's never carried a bill that promoted drug use, said the bill would not create a state law calling for needle exchange programs; it would only allow local communities to make that decision. "It's time we did it. It's a situation that my city should have a right to do, if they think it's the right thing to do to control the spread of this disease," she said. Webb said the bill "in no way is giving up on the fight against drugs." Friday's Senate vote was 20-16 [sic: 20-15, actually]. All of the Senate Democrats supported the bill, as did Republicans Wham, Sally Hopper, Dave Wattenberg, Tillie Bishop and Senate President Tom Norton. For more information, call/write: People Engaged in Education and Reduction Strategies (PEERS) 2701 Alcott St. #263 Denver, CO 80203 phone: (303) 455-2472 fax: (303) 455-2548 email: