SUPERVISORS SHOULDN'T CUT NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Decision Will Spread Disease And Cost Taxpayers More Money.

The majority of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors just voted
against the health of county residents, and to reach deeper into the
pockets of taxpayers. Interesting for a group whose political
philosophy is grounded in keeping government off the backs of
residents and not wasting tax money.

Supervisors Judy Case, Phil Larson and Debbie Poochigian killed plans
for a needle exchange program aimed at helping to control the spread
of diseases, such as AIDS or hepatitis C. Many of the intravenous
drug users will end up having their disease treatments paid for by
the taxpayers. The spread of the diseases also threatens the general
health of county residents.

Doesn't matter, say Case, Larson and Poochigian. They don't care if
providing clean needles to intravenous drug users makes sense for the
taxpayers and is supported by most health experts. They just don't
like the idea of supplying clean needles to drug users.

We were especially concerned about the rationalization for the board
decision offered by Case, a registered nurse. "It's a philosophical
question whether you give someone the tools to continue illegal
behavior," she said. Does she really think that intravenous drug
users will stop their habits if they don't have clean needles.
They'll just use dirty needles, and continue the spread of the disease.

Experts told The Bee that as many as 15,000 injection-drug users live
in Fresno County, and their numbers are growing to crisis
proportions. The addiction problem cuts across the county's
demographic spectrum. "You can see someone pull up to the exchange in
a BMW and you can see someone riding up on their broken-down
bicycle," said Kris Clarke, a social work professor at Fresno State.

Three years ago, Fresno County allowed needle-exchange program
leaders to operate in the open in permanent quarters with immunity to
drug laws. The program also offered drug rehabilitation and
mental-health services. It was a big step toward getting the health
crisis under control. But last week, the board majority killed the program.

It was a shortsighted decision by the board majority that will
increase the spread of dangerous diseases in our county and cost
taxpayers more money.