NEEDLE EXCHANGE PUTS FOCUS ON SAFETY

Pilot Program Helps Addicts In Four Cities

Paul Hidalgo and Alarick Gunter are riding on Sherman Avenue in
Newark one afternoon when they spot someone they believe is a prostitute.

They pull over to the side of the road and motion for her to come to
their minivan. It's a quick exchange: They tell her about the city's
new syringe exchange services and hand her a pamphlet.

"Be safe, sweet," Gunter tells the woman.

More than two months after Newark started a needle exchange program,
78 clients have taken advantage of the new services North Jersey
Community Research Initiative offers at its facility on Central
Avenue. Hidalgo, 38, and Gunter, 31, recruiters for NJCRI, are doing
their best to increase that number.

"We try to help people out," Hidalgo said. "We can't make them stop
using, but at least we're getting out the message."

After a debate by the state Legislature that went on for years, Gov.
Jon Corzine signed legislation in December 2006, creating four needle
exchange pilot operations. In addition to Newark, programs are
operating in Camden, Paterson and Atlantic City.

When the city first applied last year, health officials hoped for a
$1.2 million program that would reach 300 intravenous drug users
through fixed and mobile sites.

But when they found out the legislation did not provide funding,
officials had to scale back.

"The fact is we have to start somewhere and we have to start with
what we have. We hope that it will be built into a bigger program and
spread across the city," said Pam Lynch, quality assurance
coordinator for NJCRI. "This is a population that is not very
trusting. A lot of times it's been word of mouth."

Advocates sought the help of private foundations to pay for the program.

"It's unfortunate, but our city has a major deficit. Not that our
city doesn't support it or want it. It's just that we can't afford
it," said Maria Vizcarrondo, director of the Department of Child and
Family Well-Being for Newark. "But obviously the desire and passion
to execute a needle exchange in the city are there. The leadership is
there, just that the resources are not."

NJCRI received $67,000 from three foundations to get the project off
the ground. However, with thousands of needles needed, at a cost of
10 cents each, salaries for two full-time employees and the cost of
waste disposal, funding will only last about 10 more months, said Bob
Baxter, director of Addiction and Educational Services for NJCRI.

"Funding is an issue for all of the sites. We are operating a lot of
hours relative to some of the other programs," Baxter said, adding
that NJCRI will continue applying for grants in hopes of obtaining
more cash to support the infant program.

STARTING SMALL

Other cities have experienced similar financial constraints.
Paterson's needle exchange program received $44,500 from two
foundations and submitted an application for a $25,000 grant to be
reviewed in June.

The program operates at the Well Of Hope Drop-in Center three days a
week. It has distributed 9,200 syringes and enrolled about 141 people
since it opened Jan. 30.

Paterson was able to cut costs by employing two people who are paid
with money from the drop-in center instead of from the needle exchange budget.

"Obviously it's time-consuming and it would be a whole lot nicer if
we could fund a comprehensive program from A to Z with a couple
hundred thousand dollars. But I was happy to start on a small scale,"
said Karen Walker, director of HIV services for Paterson Counseling
Center and the needle exchange administrator. "I'm very grateful for
the bits of money I've gotten."

In Camden, the needles are doled out of the only mobile unit in the
state. So far 58 people have signed up. The program, which began Jan.
15, only has one part-time employee and three volunteers. The $70,000
budget for 2008 from private foundations covers supplies, the
employee's salary and upkeep of the van.

"We have activity. We have people going there. But to increase
utilization, we are going to move to other locations in the city,"
said Kimberly McCargo, manager of HIV services for the city. "We have
an advantage that we have a mobile unit that can go around the city,
but we have very limited funding."

Atlantic City has garnered about 296 clients at the Oasis Drop-In
Center since the program began in November. The oldest of the four
pilots, it also received $25,000 from the city and other funding from
private foundations. The city has plans for a mobile unit when money
becomes available.

It is too early to determine the effect of the four pilot programs on
lessening the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne infections.

Laurence Ganges, an assistant commissioner for the state Department
of Health and Senior Services, said the success of the programs is
measured by how often they operate and how they promote services.

"If we engage individuals, if we see them on a regular basis, if we
provide referrals for services including drug treatment, provide them
with syringes, if they return the ones they are using, if we do these
things, then these programs work," Ganges said.