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The New Jersey Senate Health Committee yesterday took the unprecedentedstep of passing syringe exchange legislation. After an all-day hearing,the committee voted 5-2 to approve a bill that will, if passed by thefull legislature and signed by the governor, end New Jersey'sdistinction of being the only state that does not provide any form ofsterile syringe access.
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Syringe exchange is an important tool for reducing the spread ofdiseases such as HIV and hepatitis C without increasing drug use. NewJersey has the fifth highest number of adult HIV cases in the nation,the third highest number of pediatric HIV cases, and the highestproportion of women infected with HIV, so the need is clear. However,the Senate Health Committee has blocked past attempts to implement thisdesperately needed public health measure.
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“This is a historic moment,” said Drug Policy Alliance New Jerseydirector Roseanne Scotti.Â* “It is only the first step--but a hugestep.Â* WeÂ’ve been trying to get this bill out of this committee forfour years.Â* Now we have a real chance to make syringe access a realityin New Jersey and give public health professionals the tools they needto fight injection-related HIV and hepatitis C.”
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In its original form, the bill, S. 494, would have allowed anymunicipality in New Jersey to establish a syringe exchange program. TheHealth Committee amended the bill yesterday to restrict the program toa maximum of six yet-to-be-chosen municipalities, and added $10 millionto the bill for drug treatment programs.
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The hearing on the bill lasted a full ten hours. Opponents of syringeexchange made outrageous and misleading statements but DPA and othersupporters of the bill stayed on message.Â* At one point the outcomelooked uncertain as one senator who had previously expressed supportexpressed reservations about voting in favor of the bill.Â* A two hourbreak ensued, with officials including the governor and Senatepresident becoming involved to broker a compromise.Â* Finally, afteramendments were made, at 7:30 PM the bill was passed.
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The next stop for the legislation will be the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
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A companion bill, S. 823, was tabled by Health Committee yesterday. S.823 would have allowed pharmacies to sell up to 10 syringes without aprescription. DPA is now working to make sure the Senate revisits thatbill as soon as possible.http://www.nooked.com/news/itemtrack...0dc804a16d650d

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