A CHANGE IN THINKING MAY PREVENT DISEASE

There's a strong body of thought that needle-exchange programs just provide
drug addicts with clean needles that simply allow them to do more illegal
drugs.

But there's a rapidly growing body of thought that needle-exchange programs
can help reduce the spread of HIV and other diseases.

And that kind of thinking is behind a bill in the N.C. General Assembly
that would fund pilot programs in up to three counties to see whether such
needle-exchange programs might be beneficial in the state. The bill is
sponsored by Rep. Thomas E. Wright, a Pender County Democrat.

As distasteful as the idea of sponsoring needle-exchange programs may seem,
research and studies in other parts of the U.S. and world increasingly are
showing that such programs have helped lower the spread of HIV and other
diseases.

The Enterprise in the past has steadfastly opposed the idea of
needle-exchange programs, but the time has arrived for the idea to receive
serious consideration by state and local officials.

Perhaps, Guilford County would be a perfect area in which to conduct a
pilot needle-exchange program and to study its impact. For the last 10
years or more, the HIV-contraction rate in Guilford has exceeded the
statewide average.

Caroline Moseley of the county Department of Health and Human Services told
the Enterprise that a "good percentage" of new HIV cases likely were
related to the sharing of needles by drug addicts. It's hard to get an
exact number, she explained, because most who test positive for HIV will
lie to health officials about their illegal drug use.

Current state law is a roadblock for public and private agencies that might
consider sponsoring needle-exchange programs. Needles possessed without a
doctor's prescription are considered illegal drug paraphernalia under state
law. That prohibition prevents public agencies from getting involved and
puts private groups who may secretly conduct needle-exchange programs at
risk legally.

Conducting pilot programs would allow a complete study of the effect
full-fledged needle-exchange programs might have on reducing the spread of
disease. They also would provide avenues in which professional health care
workers could reach drug users who might get off drugs and be rehabilitated.

Twice in previous years, Wright has introduced similar legislation with no
success. This session, however, legislators should view this bill from a
different perspective and allow pilot programs that conduct serious studies
of this issue.