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Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX) Copyright: 2007 San Antonio Express-News Contact: http://www.mysanantonio.com/help/feedback/ Website: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384 Author: Gary Scharrer, Austin bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEEDLE EXCHANGE APPROVED AUSTIN - Texans could save a lot of money if illegal drug users were allowed to exchange clean needles, Sen. Bob Deuell said Thursday before the Senate approved such a program. Texas is the only state in the country that does not allow a needle exchange program for drug users. The Senate voted 22-7 for the measure, which has not cleared the House. "It brings people in to get rehabilitated. It lessens the contaminated needles in the drug-using community. It cuts down on diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C," said Deuell, a physician and Republican from Greenville. "And, in the long run, it will save the state money." The bill did not trigger debate. Treating one person with HIV costs taxpayers an estimated $385,000 over a lifetime, Deuell said. Contaminated needles are responsible for half of all HIV cases and 40 percent of hepatitis C cases in Texas, he said. "There is no good reason to continue to refuse what we know clearly works," Deuell said. A clean needle exchange program has resulted in many drug users "getting off drugs because they went someplace where people cared and got into a rehabilitation program before they caught a disease that might kill them," he said. Chances of the bill passing the House are unclear. Many people believe a needle-exchange program encourages drug addicts, said Deuell, who once shared that attitude. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake