N.J. IS WOEFULLY BEHIND ON NEEDLE EXCHANGES

It's ridiculous for New Jersey to continue limiting access to clean
needles that could greatly slow the spread of AIDS and other diseases.

Last week, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed a bill to create a
pilot needle exchange program in Wilmington to slow the rate of HIV
infections among injection drug users there.

With Delaware signing the program into law, New Jersey now stands as
the only state in the nation to restrict access to clean needles by
barring both needle-exchange programs and the ability to purchase
syringes without a prescription.

If this doesn't signal New Jersey lawmakers that it's time to creep
out from the dark ages on this issue, nothing will.

The state must change its drug laws to allow needle exchanges in
communities hard hit by AIDS.

The use of dirty needles is one of the top causes of new AIDS cases
in New Jersey. AIDS, hepatitis C and other deadly blood-borne
diseases can be spread through the sharing of needles.

All around the country and the world, governments have allowed
programs where those who abuse illegal drugs can exchange their dirty
needles for clean ones. Such programs aren't designed to encourage
drug use; they're designed to stop the spread of killer diseases such as AIDS.

Still, some say allowing needle exchanges could encourage more people
to use intravenous drugs. But numerous studies of exchange programs
across the United States have found that such programs do not lead to
more people using injection drugs.

What needle-exchange programs have done, however, is reduce the rate
of people being infected with AIDS, studies show.

It's stunning that, in a relatively progressive state such as New
Jersey, archaic drug laws have stood in the way of these needed
programs for so long.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New
Jersey is fifth among states with the most AIDS/HIV cases and has one
of the highest infection rates in the nation, as well. Roughly 50
percent of the state's AIDS cases in 2004 were tied to injection drug
use, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

Camden and Atlantic City, two communities where infected needles have
exacted a heavy toll, particularly in the African American community,
tried to institute needle-exchange programs in recent years only to
be blocked by the state's drug laws.

Now, New Jersey has a governor, Assembly speaker and many other
lawmakers who say they want to allow needle exchanges.

It's time these lawmakers acted.

New Jersey's antiquated drug laws must be changed. Every other state
in the nation has seen the wisdom in increasing access to clean
needles to slow the spread of AIDS -- a disease that slowly and
painfully kills people while also costing taxpayers perhaps millions
of dollars to treat patients who lack medical insurance.

Our state lawmakers must approve legislation to alter the state's
drug laws and allow communities to increase access to clean needles.