Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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San Francisco Examiner - July 24, 2005
Edward Carpenter, Staff Writer
The controversial law, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September, also includes requirements that pharmacies selling syringes offer safe disposal programs and provide written information or verbal counseling about drug treatment, and HIV and hepatitis C testing and treatment.
San Francisco and Alameda officials have already implemented the law in those counties. If approved, pharmacies would be restricted to selling syringes to those 18 years and older.
"If you look at this as a public health and disease-prevention issue, this is a successful way to protect the bloodstream of our community, and frankly that is more important than the morality of the drug war," said Joey Tranchina, founder of AIDS Prevention Action Network (APAN), a Redwood City-based needle-exchange program.
In addition to allowing the sale of syringes by local pharmacies, implementing the law, known as Senate bill 1159, would provide for the legal possession of up to 10 syringes, if acquired through an authorized source.
While some California counties have reportedly refused to even discuss the law, citing existing laws that prohibit syringe possession without a prescription, local law enforcement officials are taking a more measured approach.
"We are not going to take someone into custody for possession of needles, solely for participating in the needle exchange program," said Belmont police Chief Don Mattei, a member of the local police chiefs' association and the county Needle Exchange Task Force that recommended the implementation. Police will still be on the lookout for those who possess drugs or are under the influence, Mattei said.
"I think [implementation of the law] is really important, and a tried-and-true intervention as an effective strategy to prevent the spread of HIV, and probably hepatitis B and C, in the community," said Dr. Dennis Israelski, chief of infectious disease and AIDS medicine for San Mateo County.
Providing clean needles can reduce HIV infections by at least one-third; reduce needle-sharing by as much as 80 percent; and improve admissions to substance-abuse treatment, without increasing drug use, according to task force findings.
E-mail: ecarpenter@examiner.com
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