Here’s the deal. Despite advances in treatment, AIDS kills hundreds of people each year in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports that HIV rates have increased in recent years, with a cumulative 25% rise in reported cases between 1999 and 2004 (http://www.mass.gov/dph/aids/research/profile2005/epidemic_glance.pdf).
One of the most significant modes of HIV transmission is through sharing hypodermic needles. AAC reports that 39% of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the state contracted the virus either directly through using contaminated needles or through sexual contact with a person who had become infected through needle use (http://www.aac.org/site/DocServer/Syringe_-_Fact_Sheet_11.30.05.doc?docID=2162). AAC also identifies needle sharing as the primary transmission route for Hepatitis C, a chronic and potentially fatal inflammation of the liver, which afflicts an estimated 100,000 people in Massachusetts.
Each case of HIV and Hepatitis C is an individual tragedy for the person infected and his or her loved ones. The growing infection rates constitute a major public health problem for our state. And if Mr. lees is trying to be fiscally conservative, he might want to note that AAC estimates that the cost to treat a single HIV-positive person over a lifetime is $405,000.
One effective method is to provide greater access to unused disease-free needles. AAC points out that numerous studies have convinced respected organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association, to support increased syringe access.
To be sure, heroin use is a deadly problem. I work for a center for homeless youth where I’ve seen how people can suffer from addiction. And plenty of people–perhaps including lees and other Republicans, as well as conservative Dems like Phil Travis–seem to fear that accedss to needles will encourage injection drug use.
This approach is misguided. Addiction recovery is slow, and the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) points out that âdrug dependence is a chronic, relapsing diseaseâ (http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/IDU.html). While it is good to discourage drug use, we must also reduce intravenous drug usersâ risk of contracting disease.
Currently, Massachusetts is one of only three states requiring a prescription to buy syringes, and the bill which lees is blocking would change this. The bill would also mandate that information on drug treatment be included with each purchase. AAC reports that âstudy after study confirms that increased access to clean needles does not increase drug use or illegal activities.â AAC also points out that numerous law enforcement officials support the measure. Moreover, such measures have proven highly successful in reducing needle sharing; AAC cites a 40% drop in needle sharing in Connecticut after that state allowed over-the-counter needle sales, and a 17% drop over the first year in Minnesota.
It seems that among the “unfavorable amendments” to which Fournier of AAC refers are measures which would de-fund needle exchange programs if over-the-counter syringe sales are allowed. This is basically a poison pill. Needle exchange programs, which allow clients to exchange used needles for clean ones, complement over-the-counter needle sales, making needles available to those who canât afford to purchase them and offering other services to promote healthy behavior. Once again, studies have shown that needle exchange does not increase drug use, and many exchanges help addicts move toward recovery. The Cambridge, MA Needle Exchange works âto encourage any positive change,â offering âdirect linkages to drug treatment, anonymous HIV counseling and testing, primary health care, and educational groupsâ (http://www.ccaa.org/programs/nep.htm).
So why am I writing this here? Because I’m pissed. Because I know people in their teens or early 20’s who are HIV or Hep C positive. Because Republicans shouldn’t be playing games with people’s health, and because Democrats need to stand up to it. A majority in the House did, to their credit. Will the Senate follow their lead?
And, while they’re at it, let’s talk about legalizing drugs the same way alcohol was legalized after prohibition. Ostriching is not an effective way to address serious problems.
At the risk of drawing more attention to it, I didn’t mean to call this “the most biggest measure in the fight against AIDS in 10 years.” Re-worked the sentence, didn’t delete all of the old version. Ah well. Hopefully, you’ll all read the rest of it and love or hate it based on the comment, not that particular bit of sloppiness! 🙂
It may be cliche, but it’s usually true–one thing this bill needs is support. Politicians often think that issues like this are more readioactive than they really are. A call to a Senator can help with that. You know the switchboard number: 617-722-2000. Got a minute?
Since Lees is using “procedural maneuvers”, what’s the best way to block them? Can a supermajority of the Senate override him or is there a specific process we should urge our senators to enact. Thanks for posting this.
My impression is that the best thing to do is to push Senators to vote down any amendments and to pass the bill ASAP. If there are specific procedural buttons to push, they’ll know how to push them–they just need the outside pressure to make them move.
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The Senate went into session today at 1:00, and may be voting on the matter today! So call your Senator if you can. The State House switchboard is 617-722-2000.
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From what AAC tells us, the amendment to de-fund needle exchange has disappeared, at least for the moment. But there are still two out there One would limit the number of needles available for purchase to 5 at a time. That’s unlikely to keep down anyone’s level of use, and it may make sharing more likely, particularly for those with limited transporation options or who live in rural areas far from pharmacies (and yes, people in suburban and rural areas use injection drugs!).
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The second would require an ID check for every purchase. This is ostensibly to prove age, which makes some amount of sense for people who look under 18 (though younger teenage addicts need clean needles too, and teens who think they’re immortal are even less likely than some to refrain from using because they don’t have clean needles). But this amendment would require an ID check for ANYONE buying needles, which is likely to scare some people away, as they may fear that they’re being put into a database, and it will be a big block to those who don’t have ID’s (a large chunk of the population, particularly among the homeless).
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Each day, it’s estimated that 17 people are infected with Hep C or HIV through dirty needles. So call and tell ’em to pass this stupid thing already!
Because of the weather, the Senate session scheduled for today is postponed until Thursday. Needle Exchange will probably come up then, and there are apparently many more proposed amendments on the agenda. So call your Senators now! Tell them to stop wating time with politics and to save lives!