DOCTOR GROUP NEEDLES BOARD OVER PROPOSAL

Physicians: Exchange Plan Could Help To Reduce HIV, Hepatitis Cases In County

Physicians are criticizing Shasta County supervisors' rejection this
week of a needle exchange program requested by the Department of Public Health.

Dr. Ron Reece, past president of the North Valley Medical
Association, said the supervisors "missed an opportunity" to reduce
the spread of hepatitis and HIV and try to rescue drug users from
their addictions.

"I was disappointed," Reece said of the board's 3-2 vote Tuesday to
reject a needle exchange as well as a plan to allow pharmacists to
sell needles without a prescription.

"I just hope this comes back on the agenda again," Reece said Thursday.

Dr. Sutton Menezes, who coordinates care of infectious diseases at
Mercy and Shasta Regional medical centers, agreed.

"I see very intimately on a day-to-day basis, the devastating impact
of hepatitis C," Menezes said. "I actually know some health care
workers who have contracted hepatitis C from a workplace needle
exposure. Getting this needle exchange program would benefit
everyone, including the people who are just trying to do a good job
out there every day."

Public health officials had argued the cost of treating diseases
caused by accidental needle sticks and the sharing of dirty syringes
is significant. They said the plan would help dispose of the
estimated 1 million to 2 million needles and lancets used outside of
the medical system each year.

Supervisor Glenn Hawes' motion in support of the plan aimed at
curbing the spread of hepatitis and HIV died for lack of a second.
Hawes backed Supervisor David Kehoe's proposal for a two-year trial,
but board Chairwoman Trish Clarke and Supervisors Linda Hartman and
Mark Cibula voted no.

Hartman said Thursday a needle exchange program would send the wrong
message to youngsters.

"I really believe that doing a program like that would be enabling
drug use, and I got involved in government because I wanted to
continue to help this be a community I want to raise my children in," she said.

Hawes agreed that people shouldn't use illegal drugs "but they do it," he said.

"It's reality," he said Thursday. "So would you want your little kid
out in a park to find a needle and get stuck accidentally? Not me. If
I can get rid of those and actually save us money, then I'm there."

Board Chairwoman Clarke said at the meeting that she might support a
needle exchange to take used syringes out of circulation, but opposed
letting pharmacies sell needles.

County Administrative Officer Larry Lees and Public Health Officer
Andrew Deckert said Thursday that officials haven't decided what, if
any, new proposal to bring to the board.

"We're evaluating our options. It's too early to say," Deckert said.
"What I was happily impressed with was the professionalism of the
policy debate."