DEBATING NEEDLE GIVEAWAY

Re "Board vote on sales of needles delayed," Aug. 11: As someone who
attended the meeting, I would like to applaud supervisors Roger Dickinson
and Illa Collin for their principled stance in defense of a proven, if
controversial, public policy.

One theme that kept recurring among the opponents was that these programs
affect only a small portion of the population. This is false; indeed,
anyone who pays taxes or insurance premiums is daily picking up the costs
of treating such illnesses as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, which
indiscriminately infects both irresponsible drug users and their innocent
victims in the community.

Furthermore, none of the opponents were able to cite any kind of statistics
supporting their claims that clean needle programs are ineffective or
dangerous. This was pointedly contrasted by the informed opinion of the
physicians, pharmacists, health care officials and community leaders who
spoke in support of the proposal.

We should applaud supervisors Don Nottoli, Roberta McGlashan and Susan
Peters for their somber reflection on the issue, and hope that in October,
they adhere to their responsibilities and act to address this very real crisis.

- - John G. Vigna

Sacramento