New Jersey Public Health Association, New Brunswick, NJ

1995

New Jersey Public Health Association

Injecting drug users in this state are at greatest risk for HIV infection. This wave of risk rapidly spreads to their sexual partners, who become infected through sexual transmission, and which increases the potential for spread to newborn babies (in the case of heterosexual transmission). New Jersey has the dubious distinction of having the second largest number of pediatric AIDS cases, largely because of the prevalence of HIV in the drug-using community.

Until there are adequate treatment slots for injecting drug users willing and able to access effective treatment, alternative public health measures are urgently needed to stem the transmission through the risky behavior of sharing needles. Such strategies have been carefully studied, and their effectiveness well established. Two of these methods are needle exchange (with informal education and referral for treatment
services), and relaxing of drug paraphernalia laws to allow purchasing of clean needles and syringes over-the-counter. Scientific research supports the conclusion that needle exchange programs reduce HIV transmission. No data exists which indicates an increase in drug use or discarded syringes as a result of needle exchange.

The New Jersey Public Health Association strongly supports needle exchange programs in communities hardest hit by the HIV epidemic. Recent medical studies indicate the rate of HIV infection significantly decreases (e.g., 35%) among injecting drug users participating in needle exchange programs, while not increasing either the amount of drug use or needles found on streets in those communities. 

Ten other states have already put such programs in place, and are experiencing the benefit of both reduced incidence of HIV infection among the injecting drug use population, and the concomitant savings in costs of treating new HIV infection. Seventy-seven programs now operate across the country (some illegally under the current state and federal policies). The American Public Health Association supports needle exchange programs as a viable way to reduce infection, as does the 1993 CDC study which recommended lifting the ban on federal funding of needle exchange programs.

Therefore, the New Jersey Public Health Association urges our state leaders and elected officials to show leadership and compassion by changing current policies to allow needle exchange programs and reconsidering the drug paraphernalia laws.