Atlantic City, New Jersey, Moves Ahead With Plans for Needle Exchange Program

On Wednesday night, the City Council of Atlantic City voted 6-1, with one abstention, to give preliminary approval to a measure that allows for a needle exchange program in mobile health clinics around the city. The vote comes despite repeated warnings from state and county officials that City Council lacks the legal authority to launch such a program. A final vote on the proposed measure is scheduled for June 16.

City officials are trying to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C in Atlantic City, which has the highest HIV infection rate among black males in the state. Since Atlantic City officials first proposed the needle exchange in April, Camden officials have said they would launch a similar program.

But the state Attorney General's Office and Atlantic City Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz have both asserted that New Jersey law prohibits cities from launching a needle exchange. Atlantic City officials have indicated that they would challenge in court any attempt to block the city-run program.

Gov. James E. McGreevey has not commented publicly on the issue, but he has reiterated support for hospital-based exchanges in the context of drug rehabilitation programs. No such programs currently exist or are planned, however.

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