NO NEEDLE EXCHANGE IN PATERSON

PATERSON - Mayor Joey Torres has chosen not to apply to set up a
needle-exchange program aimed at curbing the spread of HIV by offering drug
addicts sterile syringes.

Paterson, the state's third-largest city, also counts the third-largest
number of HIV and AIDS cases, more than a third of which were caused by
intravenous drug users sharing dirty syringes, according to state Health
Department statistics.

Torres claimed Tuesday that, although the city's health officer and the
county's HIV planning council have favored needle exchanges, he decided not
to apply for a state pilot program permitting needle exchanges, because he
did not have the input of his constituents.

"As a policy maker, I do understand the argument that was made by our
health-care professionals," Torres said. "I will not do it without taking
it to the public."

Torres also said he personally opposes the controversial needle exchanges
that critics argue enable drug abuse by putting syringes in the hands of
abusers.

As one of his last acts in office, Gov. James E. McGreevey signed an
executive order permitting the state Department of Health and Senior
Services to set up needle exchanges in three municipalities. State law bars
the distribution of needles without a doctor's prescription.

Last week, the department chose Camden and Atlantic City to host the
exchange programs. Paterson, whose 1,668 HIV-infected adults outnumber
those in Camden and Atlantic City combined, was one of nine cities invited
to apply for the program. In order to qualify, in addition to submitting an
application, the city would have had to adopt an ordinance permitting a
needle exchange.

Last fall, City Councilman Ken Morris crafted a resolution endorsing
McGreevey's order and asking that Paterson be allowed to play host to one
of the exchanges. Because the resolution was non-binding, it did not
qualify for the state's application.

Morris said Tuesday that he did not know the city needed to apply for the
program. He thought the state would simply choose the cities it wanted to
participate. He said no one in Paterson government informed him of the need
to apply.

"I would have liked to have seen a needle exchange piloted here," Morris
said. "If it needed an ordinance, I don't think that it would have been a
problem."

State Epidemiologist Eddy Bresnitz said Tuesday he hopes the needle
exchanges in Atlantic City and Camden could begin operating within weeks.
He hopes that the pilot exchanges will show how such programs work. As it
was written, McGreevey's order expires at the end of December. Unless the
governor issues another order, or the Legislature passes a long-stalled
needle-exchange bill, the programs will end then.

By missing the deadline and failing to apply, Paterson may have lost its
chance to secure a legal needle-exchange program in the future.

Jerry Dillard, the executive director of the Council on AIDS at the Passaic
County Resource Center, said he was surprised to learn Paterson did not
apply. Intravenous drug use continues to be the primary form of
transmission of HIV in the city and the county. He said he has also seen
more young suburban adults injecting drugs lately.

"This definitely reaches beyond the borders of Paterson and Passaic,"
Dillard said. "I think it's really unfortunate that this area will not have
access to that type of program."

Torres said he still intends to talk to city residents about
needle-exchange programs in an open forum or town hall meeting, although
none on needle exchanges has been scheduled.

"It has to be, from my perspective, a decision that is not done because I
am the chief executive officer of the city or my health officer says its
done in another town. It has to be embraced by the community," Torres said.
"I'm not so sure if all the residents of the city of Paterson are clearly
up to par on the educational side, so they can make an educated decision."