New Jersey Senate to Vote on Bill to Make “Pilot” Sterile Syringe Access Programs Permanent and Provide Funding

Press Release June 19, 2012
Media Contact

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Tony Newman 646-335-5384 or Roseanne Scotti 609-610-8243</p>

Trenton—This Thursday, June 21st, the Senate will vote on Senate Bill 2001, which would make New Jersey’s sterile syringe access programs permanent and appropriate $95,000 to fund the programs.  The Senate session is scheduled to begin at 2pm.  Senate Bill 2001 is sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex).

In December of 2006, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Blood-Borne Disease Harm Reduction Act, which allowed for the establishment of up to six “pilot” syringe access programs in New Jersey.  Programs have been established in Atlantic City, Camden, Jersey City, Newark and Paterson.  The passage of this life-saving legislation came after years of debate and study.  And it came at a time when most other states already allowed some form of access to sterile syringes to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases.

These programs have been a resounding and unqualified success.   A 2010 report by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services stated, “The program is off to an excellent start and serves a hard-to-reach population with tremendous promise in preventing the transmission of blood-borne pathogens.”  At that time almost 5,000 individuals had accessed the programs and the services they offer.  The news since then has only gotten better.  To date:

Advocates for these programs predicted that they would not only reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases, but that they would also serve as a bridge to drug treatment and other social services.  By the health department’s own evaluation, this has proven to be true.

Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director for Drug Policy Alliance, says, “These programs are saving lives and changing lives.  Every time someone visits a syringe access program it is one less chance they will get HIV and hepatitis C and one more chance they will get access to drug treatment and other needed services.”

These programs are also saving New Jersey money.  Jerome King, Executive Director of Well-of-Hope Community Development Corporation, which runs the syringe access program in Paterson, says, “Lifetime HIV care for one person costs more than $618,000.  A clean syringe costs about 10¢.  By funding New Jersey’s syringe access programs, the State will save lives and save money.  There isn’t a better investment the State could make.”

Up to now, the programs have been funded by grants from private foundations, but funding is scarce and all of these life-saving programs are hanging by a thread.  Advocates say the time has come for New Jersey to make these programs permanent and to provide funding for their critically important services.

Senate Bill 2001 is supported by a long list of public health and advocacy organizations including: the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the Garden State Pharmacy Owners, the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, the New Jersey Council of Chain Drug Stores, the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Homeside Hospice, the Hepatitis C Association, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, South Jersey AIDS Alliance, Camden Areas Health Education Center, and Well-of-Hope Drop-In Center.

A young woman holds a sign that says "End the Drug War."

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