COUNTY SYRINGE PLAN WOULD BRING RISKS

On Oct. 18, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will consider
allowing local pharmacies to sell hypodermic needles to anyone over age 18
in a misguided attempt to slow the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.

If approved, the Disease Prevention Demonstration Project would put
innocent citizens and emergency personnel at risk, undermine public health
and flout existing drug laws. While public officials must find ways to
reduce the spread of infectious disease, careful consideration of all the
evidence makes it very clear that this program would not achieve that goal.
In addition, it would substantially increase risks to residents of
Sacramento County and have only limited success in reducing infections
among drug users.

With unfettered access to syringes, more used needles would litter parks
and school grounds. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study
found HIV to be active for up to 30 days on discarded syringes. The Office
of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) found that 40 percent of syringes
obtained through needle access programs are not properly disposed.

The arithmetic is simple: More needles on the street means a greater risk
to innocent people. Anyone who claims that this program would not increase
the number of needles in the waste stream is being dishonest.

Local law enforcement is opposed to this program. Sheriff Lou Blanas,
District Attorney Jan Scully and Chief Probation Officer Verne Speirs agree
that this experiment would pose dangers to their employees. Folsom Mayor
Steve Miklos reports being stuck multiple times in his previous career as a
firefighter.

Law enforcement officials also are concerned this program would undermine
their efforts to combat illegal drug use, the root cause of the problem
that proponents of needle sales are attempting to solve.

We must fight drug abuse not only because it is harmful to society, but
also because drug overdose is the leading cause of death among intravenous
drug users, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
To save lives, we must break the cycle of addiction. Providing needles
would do nothing to address that.

As a testament to the ineffectiveness of "safe drug use" programs, ONDCP
reports that regions with needle access programs have seen continued
increases in the number of people using intravenous drugs. Dramatic
increases in other risky, disease-spreading activities such as prostitution
and unsafe sexual behaviors were also observed in the drug-using population.

As Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association President Steve Fisk
said, "It's not like we're talking about the most responsible people here."
Scientific studies from Montreal and Vancouver show that addicts who use
needle access programs are actually two to three times more likely to
contract HIV than those who do not participate in these programs.

Supporters say this experiment will be a success if even one drug user
avoids exposure to HIV. However, if one innocent schoolchild or American
River Parkway user becomes accidentally infected, or if one clean needle is
used in an overdose, the program would be worse than a failure.

I refuse to risk the lives of the county residents and public safety
employees I represent.

If this program has merit, it will sell itself. With all the brilliant
medical minds involved, surely we can come up with a safer, more creative
and truly effective approach to public health problems resulting from
intravenous drug use than simply selling needles and handing out
instructions for their disposal.

About the writer: Roberta MacGlashan is a member of the Sacramento County
Board of Supervisors.