New Jersey: Needle Exchange Puts Focus on Safety

Pilot needle exchange programs are up and running in four New Jersey cities, Newark, Camden, Paterson, and Atlantic City. It is too early to determine whether the programs have helped lessen the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases like hepatitis C, but experts say success can be measured by other criteria.

"If we engage individuals, if we see them on a regular basis, if we provide referrals for services including drug treatment, provide them with syringes, if they return the ones they are using, if we do these things, then these programs work," said Laurence Ganges, an assistant commissioner for the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

Funding remains a concern, since the Legislature did not provide any money when it approved the pilot programs.

Newark's North Jersey Community Research Initiative received $67,000 from three foundations to get its exchange off the ground. But with thousands of needles needed at a cost of 10 cents each, salaries for two full-time employees and the cost of waste disposal, the exchange has funds for only about 10 more months, said Bob Baxter, NJCRI's director of addiction and educational services.

"Funding is an issue for all of the sites," said Baxter. "We are operating a lot of hours relative to some of the other programs."

Paterson's exchange received $44,500 from two foundations and is awaiting word on a $25,000 grant proposal to be reviewed in June. Camden's program has a $70,000 budget for 2008, which covers the exchange's mobile unit and one part-time employee. Atlantic City, the oldest of the four exchanges, received funds from private foundations as well as $25,000 from the city. It has plans for a mobile unit when money becomes available.

Back to other news for May 2008