GORMLEY TO CO-SPONSOR STATE NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAM

TRENTON - Over-the-counter sales of hypodermic needles and
state-regulated needle-exchange programs would be legalized under a
bill that will be introduced with bipartisan support when the state
Senate returns for the start of its lame-duck session Nov. 24.

Co-sponsoring the legislation on the Republican side is state Sen.
Bill Gormley, R-Atlantic, who told The Press of Atlantic City in
August that he opposed needle-exchange programs because they condone
drug use.

"I'd prefer an alternative, but I don't know of an alternative,"
Gormley said Tuesday. "It's a serious health issue that has to be
addressed. It's time we addressed it."

New Jersey is one of only two states - Delaware is the other - that
deny access to clean needles and syringes in its cities. Drug-policy
advocates contend that the state's restrictive laws contribute to the
spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other diseases.

Evidence supports the claim. According to the state Department of
Health, 46 percent of HIV infections in New Jersey are related to
shared needles. The national average is 25 percent.

The state also has the third highest percentage in the country of
residents living with HIV, the second highest rate of HIV among
children and the highest rate of women living with AIDS.

Members of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national group that lobbies for
changes in drug laws, pushed those statistics Tuesday at the
Statehouse press conference. The group also released a report from
Donald Scarry, principal economist with New Jersey Economics, that
claims the state would save $227,000 in medical costs for each AIDS
case avoided as a result of the availability of clean needles.

Clean needles, Scarry said, cost 10 cents.

The legislation Gormley, Sen. Joe Vitale, D-Middlesex and Sen. Robert
Singer, R-Ocean, will introduce next week will not cost the state a
penny, according to the sponsors. It would permit pharmacies to sell
needles without a prescription and allow for privately funded
needle-exchange programs to set up according to Department of Health
guidelines, with the approval of local municipalities.

"What's important is that legislation like this will save lives,"
Vitale said. "This is a more thoughtful, controlled approach as
compared to an out and out, unregulated needle-exchange program."

The City Councils of Newark, Camden and Jersey City all have passed
unanimous resolutions in support of a state Assembly bill, sponsored
by Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, that legalizes the sale of hypodermic
needles and allows municipalities to make needle exchange a part of
its HIV-prevention program. Atlantic City Council will consider a
similar resolution at its next meeting.

The state estimates one of 32 black males in Atlantic City is living
with HIV or AIDS, the highest rate in New Jersey. The report released
Tuesday by New Jersey Economics claims Atlantic County owns the
third-highest percentage in the state - behind Essex and Hudson
counties - of residents living with HIV and AIDS.

According to the report, Atlantic County residents account for 3
percent of the state population but 4.5 percent of the state's HIV and
AIDS cases.

Gormley said he reviewed the local statistics and it convinced him to
get involved. As a sponsor, he is pushing to make sure the bill
requires needle-exchange programs be regulated by the Department of
Health. The bill appears to mesh, for the most part, with a plan put
forth by Gov. James E. McGreevey's administration to run a
hospital-based needle exchange pilot program.

"The specifics of the design of the pilot program are still under
review," Health Department spokesman Donna Leusner said.

Prior to McGreevey, Gov. Christie Whitman adamantly opposed needle
exchange. In recent years, several states have acted to change its
laws. Illinois legalized the sale of needles in August 2003. New York
legalized the sale of hypodermic needles in pharmacies in 1999 and has
nine different needle-exchange programs.

Pennsylvania is one of five states that does not allow the sale of
needles, but Philadelphia's Prevention Program, created by former
Mayor Ed Rendell, provides needle exchange, counseling, HIV testing
and treatment referrals.

Those pushing for needle access in New Jersey hope Gormley is an
example of Trenton's change in attitude on the subject.

"He was one of the people we didn't think was going to vote for it,"
said Roseanne Scotti of the Drug Policy Alliance. "I think it shows
the efforts that we've done and other people have done to educate.
People understand (needle exchange) doesn't increase drug use. It
doesn't increase crime. If anything, it's a bridge to treatment."