SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER GIVING ADDICTS NEEDLES

MARTINEZ -- The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will
consider a plan to give clean needles to drug addicts.

The proposal comes from Supervisor John Gioia, who said it is designed to
prevent the spread of AIDS among drug users and their families.

Under a law that takes effect in January, counties may decriminalize needle
exchange if officials declare AIDS a public health emergency. Gioia has
proposed that Contra Costa make such a declaration and then find ways to
back a needle exchange program.

National studies have found that needle exchange is a cost-effective way to
reduce transmission of HIV, Gioia said.

"Needle exchange does not mean the county supports or condones drug use,"
Gioia said. "You use needle exchange as an opportunity to channel IV drug
users into substance abuse treatment."