Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune - July 27, 2003
Christi Parsons, Tribune staff reporter
Meant to stem the spread of HIV by reducing the use of dirty needles, the measure also requires pharmacists to hand out pamphlets on drug treatment and safe needle disposal to everyone who buys syringes over the counter.
"You can recover from drug addiction, but you cannot recover from AIDS," said state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), sponsor of the controversial measure. "We want to encourage drug users to get into recovery, but, until they're ready, we want to make sure they're not dying of AIDS."
Before the new law was signed, Illinois was one of only five states that still required a prescription to buy syringes. Attempts to change the law have faced difficulties in the General Assembly in the past, with lawmakers raising concerns that it would encourage illicit drug use rather than discourage it.
Opponents have also pointed out that a pack of 10 needles costs $2 or $3 and argued that addicts would be unlikely to go to the trouble of buying them at a drugstore.
But advocates for the law argued that other states that have repealed their prescription requirements have seen a decrease in syringe sharing and in the spread of blood-borne disease through shared needles.
"This has been proven to stem the spread of HIV among injection drug users," Feigenholtz said. "This measure essentially will remove a barrier to getting sterile syringes."
Supporters also argue that the pamphlets provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health will provide valuable information about drug treatment to the people who need it most.
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