California: Needle Exchange Rejected

On Tuesday, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposed needle exchange program but stopped short of ruling out such a program for the future. By a 4-1 vote, supervisors directed county Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno to meet with the city of Fresno on a possible joint effort.

Sup. Susan Anderson, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said she was disappointed that her colleagues failed to provide the public any options for legally obtaining clean needles. Sup. Henry Perea objected, saying the program Moreno presented was based partly on a currently underground needle exchange program and did not adequately address treatment services.

The unauthorized needle exchange operates every Saturday at West and Hedges avenues. Jean Rodriguez, who runs the exchange, says she thinks more people would come if it were legalized. "They're at risk of being arrested every time they come out there," she said. "But they come because they don't have anywhere else to go. We're one of the few normal contacts for them, and it's really the first step toward treatment."

The debate over a legal needle exchange in the county has been ongoing since the late 1990s. Supporters say the issue must be addressed due to the growing number of injection drug users infected with diseases. In a 17-page report delivered to the board last week, Moreno said 81 percent of IDUs in Fresno County are infected with hepatitis C, compared with 1.8 percent for the general population.

But Sup. Judy Case suggested that establishing an exchange in the county would only attract more drug users to the area. "We end up as a magnet for people who don't want to seek treatment but want to get a needle to continue their habit," said Case. She argued the majority of people seeking clean needles at the underground exchange are from Fresno, and the city can legally establish its own program.

Sup. Bob Waterson said he would consider supporting a needle exchange if the city shared its costs.

Back to other news for May 26, 2006