NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAM POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY

What so possesses politicians that they would blind their eyes even
to a public health crisis?

Usually, it's the hunt for votes in the next election.

Seven New Jersey legislators have obtained a court order to block
temporarily needle-exchange programs in Camden and Atlantic City.
Their shortsighted litigation stands in the way of a proven method to
stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The seven - including ringleader state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R., Union)
- - say they're acting in the public's interest. No, they are
exploiting for their own political goals the public's understandable
reluctance to take a step that some might view as assisting drug abuse.

A state appellate court granted the seven a temporary injunction
blocking an executive order by former Gov. James McGreevey. McGreevey
declared a public-health emergency and permitted Camden, Atlantic
City, and a third unselected city to establish needle-exchange
programs to fight AIDS and HIV. Public health officials say one out
of every 40 of Atlantic City's residents is HIV-positive. Camden, a
city of 79,000, has more than 1,300 cases of HIV or AIDS.

The lawmakers' suit asserts that McGreevey illegally bypassed the
Legislature. But their comments show it's not really the process but
the result that they don't like.

Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R., Morris) says needle-exchange programs
don't reduce the spread of AIDS, and instead "only encourage drug
addicts to continue this self-destructive behavior." He's wrong on both counts.

The American Medical Association has endorsed needle exchange, so has
the American Pharmaceutical Association. The National Research
Council and the Institute of Medicine both say there "is no credible
evidence" that needle exchange increases illegal drug use.

Pennacchio need only travel as far as Baltimore to find a city that
credits needle exchange for a drop in drug overdoses to their lowest
level in five years. Through its needle-exchange program, Baltimore
has even trained addicts to recognize overdoses and administer CPR
and other life-saving measures.

Kean says needle-exchange proponents are "naive" to think a drug
addict "will willingly forgo shooting up with a friend's needle until
they can go to an exchange program to get a clean one." Mr. Kean, the
data show that this is exactly what a significant number of addicts
will do. Not all of them, but enough to limit the transmission of HIV and AIDS.

The National Institutes of Health says needle exchange can reduce the
sharing of dirty needles among drug addicts by as much as 80 percent.
An International Journal of Drug Policy study of 99 cities worldwide
showed HIV infections being reduced by 19 percent in cities with
needle exchange and increasing 8 percent a year in cities without it.

New Jersey and Delaware are the only states left that do not permit
needle exchange. With Massachusetts, the three are the only states in
America that do not permit pharmacies to sell hypodermics without a
prescription. Such sales also help reduce needle sharing.

The evidence is in and it's clear-cut. Needle exchange-programs not
only help reduce HIV cases, they provide an opportunity to counsel
addicts and get them into drug treatment. That can improve public
health and reduce crime for all New Jerseyans.

If the court decision means the Legislature must pass a law for
needle exchange to proceed, it should do it - quickly!