Hot-button issues push to top of Trenton agenda

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, December, 2006 | by Jennifer Moroz

It took more than a decade to muster the votes, but the New Jersey Legislature approved a pilot program yesterday that would allow intravenous drug users to swap their dirty needles for clean ones. The Senate and Assembly both voted to allow six cities to establish needle exchanges, a move proponents say will go a long way toward reducing the spread of blood-borne disease, particularly HIV-AIDS, through the sharing of infected needles.

Officials in drug-plagued Camden and Atlantic City have already said they would apply to participate in the program, which Gov. Corzine said yesterday he would sign into law. When that happens, New Jersey will become the last state in the country to offer some form of needle access. All others have exchange programs or allow the...