REVISIT NEEDLE-EXCHANGE IDEA NEXT YEAR

The N.C. Legislature didn't take action this year on a proposed
needle-exchange pilot program that would have included Guilford
County. Proponents of the plan shouldn't let it drift into obscurity
during the next several months.

The legislation proposes programs in three counties that would be
administered by local health departments to test the effectiveness of
exchanging needles for drug addicts in an effort to reduce the spread
of HIV and hepatitis C .

A growing body of evidence indicates such programs can be effective
in reducing the diseases and also providing a way for drug addicts to
get into treatment programs. It's worth the effort here.