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Your faxes are working! The Drug Policy Alliance recently launched our Campaign for a Healthier New Jersey Fall '06 Initiative and we asked you to urge the legislature and governor to take up sterile syringe access as soon as possible. Both Senate Health and Budget Committees passed Senate bill 494 in the last month. This bill would allow for the establishment of up to six municipal syringe access programs in New Jersey. On October 19th, the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee passed the companion bill to S494, Assembly bill 1852. The Committee also passed A2839, our bill to allow for the non-prescription sale of syringes in pharmacies!

In order to sustain support for this bill as it advances through the legislative process, we need your help! Thank the members of the New Jersey Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee who voted for Assembly Bills 1852 and A2839.

Together we can get this bill passed and save lives in New Jersey!

New Jersey has the 5th highest number of adult HIV cases, the 3rd highest number of pediatric HIV cases, and the highest proportion of women infected with HIV in the nation. New Jersey's rate of infection related to the sharing of contaminated syringes is almost twice the national average. More than 15,000 New Jerseyans have died from HIV/AIDS contracted from contaminated syringes. More than 15,000 other New Jerseyans are living with HIV/AIDS caused by the sharing of contaminated syringes. We have been fighting the battle against HIV/AIDS in New Jersey with one hand tied behind our backs. It is time to start fighting in earnest. It is time to pass sterile syringe access legislation!

Please take a moment to send a fax to the members on the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee who voted yes on this life-saving legislation.

Over the coming weeks we will keep you updated on the progress of our Campaign for a Healthier New Jersey Fall '06 Initiative and tell you how you can continue to support life-saving syringe access legislation in New Jersey. Thank you for all you do to support HIV prevention and sensible drug policies in New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Roseanne Scotti
Director, Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey http://www.nooked.com/news/itemtrack...0e772f29f20539

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