The bill, which passed the state Senate 28-12 in February, would allow pharmacies to sell fewer than 10 of the syringes to adults without a prescription
Syringes in a supply box are shown in a 2008 file photo. An Assembly panel has advanced a bill to allow the sale of small quantities of hypodermic needles over the counter in order to decrease the spread of bloodborne diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.TRENTON — An Assembly panel has advanced a bill to allow the sale of small quantities of hypodermic needles over the counter in order to decrease the spread of bloodborne diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.
The Assembly Health and Senior Services committee sent it on for a vote in the full Assembly by a vote of 8-1, with two abstentions.
The bill (A1088), which passed the state Senate 28-12 in February, would allow pharmacies to sell fewer than 10 of the syringes to adults without a prescription. Larger quantities would require a prescription.
Advocates said 48 other states already allow sales of the needles over the counter.
“It looks like we’re on the tail end of this one. Many states have already passed this legislation,” said Assembly Health Committee Chairman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington).
Jay Lassiter, a liberal activist from South Jersey, said he is a former IV drug user who avoided Hepatitis only because he was able to get clean needles in another state.
“I’ve seen HIV-positive IV drug users in the trenches and it is not pretty. If we can’t access a clean needle we will improvise, and that usually means using a dirty needle,” said Lassiter.
Other advocates said the bill would gives diabetes patients easier access to needles.
But conservative activist John Tomicki testified against the bill.
“When you look at the experience that occurred in Europe with syringes and needles being readily available we realized it was down the wrong path,” he said.
Tomicki also criticized it for not providing enough oversight, including requiring pharmacy workers to check customer’s IDs to make sure they’re over 18.
Only one Assemblywoman, Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth), voted no.
Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz voted yes but “with reservations” because she said more needles may be in circulation, putting non-drug users at risk.
“We don’t want them thrown in the garbage so we get stuck with a needle. That is my main concern,” she said. “So if there’s some way to write that into this legislation. How can we be sure that they’re going to dispose of this properly so people who aren’t drug users don’t get stuck?”
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