Lawmakers debate whether to extend, expand, end syringe sales (CA)

Lawmakers debate whether to extend, expand, end syringe sales
By Josh Richman
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 07/24/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

California lawmakers are mulling whether to extend or expand a state program allowing over-the-counter sales of syringes without a prescription to curb the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases.

Without action, such sales will become illegal at this year's end -- and public health authorities suggest that could be a deadly tragedy.

The current law, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, lets counties choose whether to let pharmacists sell up to 10 syringes to someone without a prescription; it also makes an exception to drug-paraphernalia laws to allow possession of up to 10 syringes if acquired through an authorized source. Every greater Bay Area county except Napa chose to take part in this Disease Prevention Demonstration Project. Contra Costa was first in December 2004, and Santa Clara was last in January 2006.

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AB 1701 by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, would extend the existing law for eight more years, still leaving it to city councils or county supervisors to decide whether to opt in and let pharmacies choose to take part. The Assembly passed this bill April 5 on a 49-27 vote, and the state Senate Health Committee approved it last month on a 6-1 vote; it's now pending before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 1029 by state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, would permanently give all California pharmacists discretion to sell and give adults the right to possess up to 30 syringes to adults without a prescription. The state Senate passed Yee's bill on a 21-8 vote May 28; the Assembly Health Committee and Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee passed it in June; and it's now pending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_15578870?source=rss

Give them out, as well as harm-reduction educational pamphlets

each county to approve exchange - ours has and an exchange has operated here for ~ 3 years. It's been a piecemeal approach, in many ways, to effectively implementing a proven harm reduction response to blood borne infections, yet it continues to gain broader support. And the list of counties approving exchange, in one form or another, continues to grow.

This bill looks to resolve the pharmacy sales issue. They operate under pretty stringent guidelines, across the range of their profession.

:hi: