Needle Exchanges Could be Limited by Bill December 10
Needle exchange programs are often an asset to communities in which they reside, but a new bill headed to congress could make serious changes to the way they work. This bill, intended to lift the ban on federal monies being used for needle exchange programs, could help such programs but it will also limit the areas in which they can reside. Federally financed exchanges can’t be within 1,000 feet of parks, libraries, schools, places where children could gather or video arcades according to the bill, a major change that would affect the majority of the US’s 200 needle exchanges. For many this appears to be a way to maintain the ban in a less direct way.
Another bill bans the use of city and federal money to needle exchanges within 1,000 feet of such places in Washington.
Both bills have already passed through the House and Senate subcommittees and are facing Senate consideration soon. Many organizations and advocates including the NAACP are lobbying congress to kill the 1,000 foot provisions for fear that such beneficial programs could go unused when they’re needed most. Both donations and human services monies have been dropping and have already caused the closing of at least four different needle exchanges. Many have forgotten the importance of needle exchanges which help reduce rates of Hepatitis C and AIDS and offer vital programs like mental health counseling, condom distribution and medical referrals. Few cities have areas that fall outside the 1,000 foot rule this provision requires and could face losing all such programs if the bills get passed as they stand.
Tags: bill, counseling, law, needle, needle exchange, prevention, substnace abuse