STERILE SYRINGES FOR SALE TO PUBLIC

Physicians And Pharmacies Will Be Allowed To Sell Them

People who inject illegal drugs will be able to buy sterile syringes from
pharmacies and health care providers starting tomorrow.

A bill passed by the Legislature authorizes sale of sterile syringes to
reduce sharing of infected syringes and transmission of HIV, hepatitis and
other blood-borne diseases.

"The new law permits an effective prevention intervention with little or no
cost to the public purse," said Peter Whiticar, chief of the state Health
Department's STD/AIDS Prevention Branch.

"In the longer term, fewer infections mean lower health care costs and less
human suffering," said Whiticar, who worked with a task force of state and
community agencies in support of the new law.

Only licensed pharmacists and physicians and their agents are authorized to
sell syringes under the new law, which is expected to enhance the state's
successful sterile syringe exchange program.

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a new, sterile syringe be used for
each injection to eliminate disease transmissions.

Hawaii's syringe exchange program has kept sharing of used syringes and HIV
transmission much lower than in most state, but new HIV infections occur and
hepatitis C continues to spread, the Department of Health said.

As required by the law, the DOH has developed educational materials
specifically for Hawaii about prevention of blood-borne diseases, HIV
counseling and testing, drug treatment, access to the syringe exchange
program and safe disposal of used syringes.

The materials are being distributed to pharmacies for consumers.