NO FAVOR TO ADDICTS

While former Govs. Jim Florio and Christie Whitman had the wisdom to avoid
establishing a needle exchange program, it appears Gov. James E. McGreevey
is leaning toward it.

This would be a big mistake. Taking drugs is illegal, and a prescription is
needed to buy hypodermic needles in New Jersey. The objective of these laws
is to discourage the use of illegal drugs. When the government provides
free needles to addicts, it is saying it will either rescind the laws or
ignore them.

Needles may be cheap, but drugs are not. When money is not available to buy
drugs, addicts will resort to selling their belongings, theft and
prostitution to get narcotics. These people could care less about turning
in dirty needles. When in desperate need of a fix, they will not worry
whether a needle is clean or not.

Let's not legalize drug use through the back door with needle programs.
Let's not waste taxpayer money on illusory programs that become part of the
problem.