Needle Exchange Program

Attached a link to an interesting article published in today's Miami Herald titled "Needle exchange bill inching forward in the Florida Legislature" highlighting HB Bill 735 calling for a a five-year pilot program in Miami-Dade County to legalize syringe and needle exchange programs. Such exchanges operate in at least 35 states, but remain illegal in Florida. A similar bill in the Senate, sponsored by Miami Democratic Sen. Gwen Margolis, has stalled.The bill is based on research conducted by University of Miami students. The bill calls for the exchange program to provide free, clean and unused needles and hypodermic syringes in exchange for used needles and syringes as a way to curb the transmission of diseases among injection drug users, as well as to protect emergency workers and members of the public who might inadvertently come into contact with contaminated injection supplies. Participants would also receive educational materials, HIV counseling and testing and referrals to drug treatment. The program would operate for five years and be funded through grants and donations. I fully support needle exchange programs and the efforts to push this bill through the Florida legislature. The legislation is also being supported by the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians. I am confident that FSAM will join the efforts, too. I look forward to your comments and responses. Yours Bernd