N.J. CLOSER TO NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

New Jersey lawmakers moved closer Thursday to joining the rest of the
nation in allowing communities to have needle exchange programs.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted to release a
bill allowing such programs out of the committee by a 9 to 5 vote.
The bill, however, was not passed with a recommendation that the full
Senate pass it.

The Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act would allow New Jersey to
develop a needle exchange program in order to help prevent the spread
of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Six municipalities
would be allowed to run pilot programs.

Lawmakers debated how the proposed $10 million appropriation should
be spent by the Division of Addiction Services for additional
inpatient and outpatient treatment. The exchange program not only
provides patients with clean needle exchange but will offer treatment
opportunities, "safe and sober" houses and help medication to help
patients wean opiate addiction. Republicans tried, but failed, to
block spending on syringes.

Supporters of the bill include the National Association of Social
Workers-New Jersey Chapter, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the
Camden Area Health Education Center and the New Jersey Women and AIDS Network.

Of those admitted to substance abuse treatment, nearly 45 percent are
primary heroin users. Raquel Mazon Jeffers, acting director of the
Division of Addiction Services, said that these programs can give
treatment programs more access to reaching drug users.

"The legislation presents a tremendous opportunity for our treatment
system to broaden its range and approach, as well as make a
connection with those individuals in need who have not reached out
for help," Jeffers said.

There are approximately 30,000 people in New Jersey who are infected
with HIV, with half of those infections being drug-related. New
Jersey also has the highest proportion of HIV infections in women,
the third highest in pediatric infections, and fifth highest among
adults in the nation.

Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, R-Boonton, said this kind of program should
not come from taxpayer money and that the focus should be on treating
addicts, not giving them needles.

"We have a lot of programs out there for drug addicts. Maybe that's
what we should be looking into, strengthening the programs and
getting addicts off the dependency of drugs," Bucco said.

The bill has now moved onto the full Senate for vote, but it is not
expected to be voted on until after the November elections.

The Assembly -- which passed the bill last session, only to see it
stall in the Senate -- will consider the bill by year's end, said
Speaker Joe Roberts Jr., D-Camden.