NY OKS NON-PRESCRIPTION NEEDLE BUYS

ALBANY, N.Y. - New Yorkers will soon be able to buy hypodermic
needles without a prescription, a move aimed at inhibiting the spread
of the AIDS virus.

``This is going to save tens of thousands of lives by virtually
eliminating needle sharing,'' said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a
Manhattan Democrat. ``It's a tragedy we weren't able to do this a
decade ago.''

New York will become the 42nd state to allow the practice when the law
takes effect Jan. 1. The measure, included in the budget package
signed into law Thursday and Friday, applies to those 18 and older.

The law drew criticism from Assemblyman Robert Straniere, a Republican
from Staten Island, who referred to it as a ``quantum leap forward for
the legalization of drugs in New York.''

Marty Algaze, a spokesman for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc., a New
York-City based AIDS organization, applauded the legislation.

Algaze said there have been 139,063 cases of AIDS reported in New York
state, with 84,065 deaths. More than half of current cases were caused
by the sharing of HIV-contaminated syringes or sexual contact with a
person who was infected through sharing needles.

The law requires that a pamphlet be included with needles on the
proper use and disposal of syringes and the dangers of drug use and
needle sharing. It will also have an HIV hotline number.