OFFERING NEEDLES TO ADDICTS

Re "Leaders split on needle access," July 20: Philadelphia has experience
in offering clean syringes to IV drug users (IDUs). Offering clean syringes
is a bridge to treatment. Approximately 1,500 IDUs have entered drug
treatment programs.

Based on more than eight years of follow-up in Baltimore's ALIVE study of
IDUs, HIV incidence decreased 35 percent after the opening of the needle
exchange program.

Arrest patterns have been found not to be significantly different in areas
served by the needle exchange program than in other areas of the city.

There was a significant drop in the number of dirty needles in the areas
around the needle exchange programs compared to other areas with heavy drug
users because the IDUs exchange their dirty needles for clean ones.

SB 1159 will give instructions on how to dispose of dirty needles, or have
containers for their disposal. SB 1159 will be evaluated in 2010.
Sacramento County should join Los Angeles and implement SB 1159.

- - Bruce Burdick, Carmichael