CLEAN NEEDLES, LESS AIDS

Another political debate about hypodermic needles -- selling them to
adults without a prescription -- is about to happen locally, this
time before the Sacramento City Council. This is a public health
issue that really doesn't belong before political bodies, but state
law only allows a local pharmacy to sell needles without a
prescription if the local council says it is OK.

The research evidence is overwhelming that clean needles reduce the
prevalence of dangerous diseases such as AIDS, saving lives and
taxpayer dollars. But too many political leaders are afraid to stand
up to law enforcement leaders who mistakenly think that selling a
clean needle is somehow the same as condoning illegal drug use. It is
not. Here's hoping that the Sacramento City Council will view the
needle issue based on facts, not fear.

Council members Ray Tretheway, Kevin McCarty and Lauren Hammond in
particular deserve credit for taking on the needle issue. In one
respect, they are looking after some residents who are not of the
highest standing, such as drug addicts who will reuse a dirty needle
and risk contracting diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. But they
are also looking after the interests of all citizens and taxpayers
who want to keep down health costs and control the spread of disease.

The Sacramento City Council is facing this issue because the
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors shamefully rejected a proposal
last year to allow needle sales countywide. Hearings held in Folsom,
Galt, Rancho Cordova and elsewhere brought up every disaster
imaginable: dirty needles in parks; dirty needles in the toy sections
of the big stores with pharmacies; more drug use; more crime.

In the end, these bogus arguments proved to be too much for the
supervisors. There is only one antidote to this kind of fear
mongering -- a real-life test case right in the heart of the community.

That is why it is so important for Sacramento to say "yes" to needle
sales. If the council approves the measure, pharmacies within the
city limits can sell up to 10 syringes to an adult at a time. The
city's Law and Legislation Committee is scheduled to debate the idea
today. Ultimately, the full council will have the final say. Let us
hope that the council has the wisdom to say "yes."