MENARD NOT YET SOLD ON HYPODERMIC SALES MEASURE

FALL RIVER -- State Sen. Joan Menard said Tuesday she hasn't made up
her mind whether to support a bill that would legalize the sale of
hypodermic needles to anyone 18 and older.

"I'd like to hear more about how the needles are distributed, the
safety of the needles and the evidence that supports the idea that
this is really a health issue rather than a drug issue," said the
Fall River Democrat. "I'd like to see evidence and see if it does
decrease the transmitting of diseases."

The state's House of Representatives passed the bill in mid-November
and the Fall River City Council unanimously approved a resolution
opposing the legislation in December.

The resolution calls upon the area legislative delegation to defeat
the bill and at the very least to ensure that it includes a provision
giving municipalities local autonomy on the issue.

"I think they have legitimate concerns about anything that looks like
we are encouraging people to use drugs," Menard said. "None of us
want to do anything that will encourage further drug use."

That is precisely the concern of City Council President William F.
Whitty, who sponsored the resolution.

"I believe the passage of the bill is a recipe for disaster," Whitty
said. "It will lead to expanded illegal drug use and it's usually
among our young people, who will view this as a signal that it's OK
to get high on heroin."

Whitty said he's "not buying" the notion that having needles
available will help stop the spread of diseases.

"I don't see where a drug user is going to take the time to look for
clean needles when they are going to commit an illegal act," Whitty said.

Instead of a clean needle program, Whitty said there should be more
of an emphasis on education to address the situation.

Menard said she believes there are clean needle programs in 47 states.

"Obviously, the evidence of being done in 47 states makes me think
that it's probably a good thing to do," Menard said. "I'm interested
in looking at what other states do and how it works and what their
records are."

The senator said the bill includes a provision that allows
pharmacists to determine whether or not they will sell the hypodermic needles.

"I don't see how it encourages people to use drugs," said Menard, who
will be doing some research on her own to prepare for debate of the
legislation on the Senate floor.

"If they feel like this is a really important bill and it really
doesn't encourage drug use and does alleviate some of the cases of
hepatitis-C and AIDS being transmitted, then I'd certainly have to
take a favorable look at it."

Menard said the bill will likely reach the Senate floor within the
next 60 days.

Of the local representatives, state Reps. Patricia Haddad,
D-Somerset, Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, and David B. Sullivan,
D-Fall River, all voted to pass the bill.

State Rep. Phil Travis, D-Rehoboth, voted against it and state Rep.
Robert Coreia, D-Fall River, didn't vote.

Menard had been unavailable to comment on the bill for much of the
month because she was in Asia with the New England Board of Higher Education.