NEEDLE SALE IN DRUG STORES GETS ALBANY OK

No Prescriptions Needed Under Legislation Passed With Budget
Bills

ALBANY -- Barring unexpected developments, there will soon be a state
law permitting anyone over 18 to obtain as many as 10 hypodermic
needles from local pharmacies across New York -- and they won't even
need a prescription.

The proposed law -- included in a sea of budget bills -- passed
through the Republican-led state Senate yesterday and then the
Democratic-led Assembly early this morning, possibly setting the stage
for another controversy on Staten Island, where the notion of a needle
exchange program infuriated a large section of the borough.

"I think the people are going to be enraged that this has happened,"
said Assemblyman Robert Straniere (R-South Shore), who blasted the
bill as a "significant step for the legalization of illegal drugs."

Straniere said the bill, which is set to become state law, is "far
worse" than any needle exchange program ever proposed in the borough.
He called it "open season" for anyone seeking a syringe -- or as many
as 10 needles -- with a "no questions asked" policy.

"What this means is if you want needles to do drugs, all you have to
do is walk up to a pharmacy and ask for a needle," Straniere said,
upset the bill was passed in the wee hours of the morning in the Assembly.

The bill reportedly passed through the Senate as part of a broader
budget bill with unanimous support. Neither state Sen. John Marchi
(R-Staten Island) or Sen. Vincent Gentile (D-East Shore/Brooklyn)
could be reached at press time for comment on the bill.

But Straniere wasn't the only Island lawmaker upset over the expected
law.

"This gives a statutory green light for illicit purposes," said
Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano (D-Mid Island). "This is definitely going
in the wrong direction. This is definitely going off-track."

Assemblywoman Elizabeth Connelly (D-North Shore), Vitaliano's
long-time ally, had a different perspective, however. She noted the
needle bill was intertwined with other budget issues she supports, but
she backs the needle law as well.

Mrs. Connelly said the needle law should help stem the AIDS dilemma on
Staten Island. She was not concerned the more-obtainable needles would
lead to problems with addicts and the syringes.

"It's being done now. The problem is they're sharing the needles," she
said, adding the law would lessen the need for addicts to share, which
spreads disease.

It was unknown what effect the budget bill will have on the proposed
Staten Island needle exchange program, which sparked heated debate
between residents and the program's advocates, which include the
Staten Island AIDS Task Force.

When Staten Island University Hospital recently explained that it only
meant to take a supporting role to the proposed Island exchange, it
considered a serious blow to the program.

The AIDS Task Force and the hospital are listed in the February 1999
application to the state Health Department for permission to run a
mobile van that would allow drug addicts to exchange their dirty
needles for clean ones, reducing the spread of AIDS. It is unknown
what effect the needle bill will have on the exchange.