NEEDLE EXCHANGE IS A SAFER IDEA

This is in reference to the June 7 article about drug addicts buying
needles without an exchange.

The subtitle should read "drug users could find syringes at the corner
pharmacy, and children will find used ones in the playground, in the
park and buried on the beach."

The article said users shoot up in a nearby McDonald's. Add that to my
list of places where children are found.

These will be needles tainted with heroin, HIV or other "abscesses."
This is not to discuss drug use, which is another issue, but what will
the drug users do with the old needles? They will just throw used ones
in the schoolyard or on the beach because they can buy clean new ones.

Do you think they will be aware of where they are discarding them?
Sure, put drop boxes on the corner for the disposal of used needles.
We all know drug users are very conscientious of needle disposal.

As Karen Reitan said, "If access prevents disease transmission and
keeps someone alive, that's a great thing."

If a child is punctured by a discarded needle, is that a great
thing?

State Sen. Donne E. Trotter supports it, and it has support from state
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin. They must have a large drug-using
constituency. The bill is off to the governor.

I guess we need to be more concerned about the drug user than the
future of our children and where discarded needles will be found.

If the exchange program keeps one child from pricking himself or
herself, shouldn't we consider it a better choice?

ROBERT CHMELA

Elgin