IT'S THE LAW: THE LEGISLATURE OVERRIDES GOV.'S VETO

 
BOSTON, July 14, 2006 -  Last night Pharmacy Access became law in Massachusetts.  The Senate joined the House in overriding the Governor’s veto of the measure which permits the sale and possession of needles without a prescription.

“As of this date, Massachusetts joins 47 other states which have committed to reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C,” said Rebecca Haag, Executive Director, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.  “The legislature’s override of the Governor’s veto will save lives, reduce new infections and save the Commonwealth millions of dollars in health care costs over the next several years.  This summer marks the 25th year since AIDS was first identified, and we salute the Legislature’s action in making  available the single-most effective prevention tool we have today in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.”

At the heart of this success is the fervent work of the people who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C across the Commonwealth.  They have tirelessly educated their legislators on the importance of this bill through a steady stream of calls, emails, personal visits and letters, culminating in a demonstration of support for the bill at the State House two weeks ago. 

Michael Wong, M.D., Board President of AIDS Action and an HIV specialist said, “The people of the Commonwealth have spoken, and their elected officials have acted accordingly with a law that will now significantly reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C.” 

Today, 39 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts have a needle-related infection either due to use of a dirty needle directly or through sexual contact with someone who has.  Needle-sharing is also the primary mode of transmission for contracting hepatitis C; there are more than 100,000 people living with hepatitis C in Massachusetts.  Steroid use also puts people at risk for disease transmission.  According to national research, half of those who use steroids use needles to administer them; and a quarter of people using steroids share needles when injecting. 

Research studies confirm that access to clean needles does not increase drug use or criminal activity.  Leaders in the public safety community, including Middlesex County District Attorney Martha Coakley, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley, Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating and Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett have endorsed this approach.  As DA Coakley indicated in her testimony at the State House, she supports this legislation because “it is good public health policy that has no public safety consequences.”  DA Conley noted that he has a brother on the Boston Police force and that this bill would protect officers on the front line.  After deregulating the sales of syringes in Connecticut, needle stick injuries to police officers decreased by 66 percent in the first six months.
Studies indicate that HIV rates among injection drug users are twice as high in areas that prohibit over-the-counter sales of syringes compared to areas that do not.  Preventing costly and deadly diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C have significant cost savings to the Commonwealth.  Lifetime treatment cost for someone living with HIV is estimated to be $400,000.  An estimated 24,000 people in our state are living with HIV/AIDS.

 AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc., (AAC), New England’s first and largest AIDS organization, is dedicated to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS by preventing new infections and optimizing the health of those already infected.  AAC provides free confidential services to men and women already living with HIV/AIDS, as well as conducts extensive educational and prevention outreach to those at risk of infection.  AAC runs the only statewide AIDS Hotline (1.800.235.2331) and Hepatitis Hotline (1.888.443.4372).  AAC also advocates for effective science-based prevention programs. 

Contact: 
Diego Sanchez, APR, dsanchez@aac.org 
617.450.1524, 617.835.1455 or
Paul Twitchell, ptwitchell@aac.org 
617.450.1215