Pubdate: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 Source: Standard-Times (MA) Copyright: 1999 The Standard-Times Contact: http://www.s-t.com/ Author: Polly Saltonstall, Standard-Times staff writer BILLS ADDRESS AVAILABILITY OF NEEDLES BOSTON -- Hoping to stem the spread of HIV among intravenous drug users, AIDS activists and health workers are backing a handful of bills that would make it easier for addicts to get clean needles. One bill would allow the Department of Public Health to establish needle exchanges without holding the local referendum now required. Several others would allow adults to get hypodermic syringes without a prescription, said Rep. William M. Straus. The Mattapoisett Democrat sits on the Joint Committee on Healthcare which held public hearings on the bills earlier this week. Studies have shown a decline in the rate of HIV transmission in communities where IV drug users have access to clean needles, supporters argue. But opponents contend that making syringes more accessible encourages drug use. Rep. Straus said the bills face an uphill battle for passage. "I don't want to sound like I'm handicapping the odds, but my sense is the committee will be very cautious about decriminalizing possession of needles," he said, noting he has not yet made up his mind on whether to support the concept or not. "The problem with decriminalization is there is no guarantee that the sharing of needles would stop among IV drug users," he said. The representative said he opposes the idea of ceding local control over needle exchanges to the Department of Public health. A recent study of intravenous drug users in New Bedford found nearly a third tested positive for HIV, and more than two thirds shared needles. According to the Department of Public Health, 58 percent of the 464 reported cases of AIDS in the city are attributed to IV drug use, compared to a statewide rate of 40 percent. City voters overwhelmingly opposed a needle exchange when it landed on the ballot in 1996. State Rep. Antonio F. Cabral, D-New Bedford, called the concept of decriminalization a new twist in the debate over improving access to sterile syringes. Noting 42 other states already have done this, he said he has gotten supportive calls on the issue from diabetics and others who currently cannot get syringes without a prescription. "At this point I'm open to the argument that it could be good public health policy to allow this to happen," he said. "But I have not made up my mind for sure yet." State Sen. Mark C. Montigny, D-New Bedford, who supported a needle exchange in 1996, has not yet taken a stand on the needle bills currently pending, a spokesman said. Those testifying in favor of improving access to clean needles included the commissioner of the Department of Public Health, AIDS activists, outreach workers, including representatives from the New Bedford-based group Treatment on Demand. Opponents included a representative of the Christian Collation of Massachusetts, according to Rep. Straus. "This has always been such a difficult issue because there is no clear right or wrong," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D