Pubdate: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Jose Mercury News Contact: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER GIVING ADDICTS NEEDLES MARTINEZ -- The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a plan to give clean needles to drug addicts. The proposal comes from Supervisor John Gioia, who said it is designed to prevent the spread of AIDS among drug users and their families. Under a law that takes effect in January, counties may decriminalize needle exchange if officials declare AIDS a public health emergency. Gioia has proposed that Contra Costa make such a declaration and then find ways to back a needle exchange program. National studies have found that needle exchange is a cost-effective way to reduce transmission of HIV, Gioia said. "Needle exchange does not mean the county supports or condones drug use," Gioia said. "You use needle exchange as an opportunity to channel IV drug users into substance abuse treatment." - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk