POISED TO PROVIDE NEEDLES PROGRAM GUIDELINES STILL BEING FORMULATED

As soon as the state provides guidelines, officials from severallocal pharmacies and municipalities said they are ready to abide by anew state law, which as of tomorrow makes it legal for people 18 andover to buy hypodermic needles without a prescription.

The Legislature approved the bill over the summer in an effort tostem the spread of disease among intravenous drug users who shareneedles.

While the law suggests that containers be placed at pharmacies,local police and fire stations, and public health offices, a finalplan on needle disposal will be announced by the MassachusettsDepartment of Public Health next month, said state RepresentativePeter J. Koutoujian, chairman of the House Committee on PublicHealth.

For years, needle distribution advocates lobbied to allow over-the-counter sales, arguing that it would reduce the transmission ofviruses such as HIV and hepatitis C. Many, like Ipswich's Harry Leno,cite a DPH report that links unsanitary needles to 39 percent of thestate's HIV and AIDS cases.

"It will create a huge harm reduction effort, which will also bebeneficial in keeping the viruses at bay," said Leno, who hasdistributed free needles to addicts for more than two decades. A boxof 100 syringes sells for $30 at CVS.

Opponents, including Governor Mitt Romney, argued that makingsyringes more readily available would encourage illicit drug use. TheLegislature overrode his veto.

With the bill's final passage on July 13, it became legal forpeople 18 and over to possess a syringe in Massachusetts without aprescription. As of tomorrow, participating pharmacies may begin tosell the needles over the counter.

Spokesmen for CVS and Wal-Mart pharmacies said the companies wouldparticipate in the program, which is optional. A spokesman for Stop &Shop pharmacies said the company was still waiting to review the DPHguidelines.

When the needles will be available without a prescription isunclear. Donna Rheaume, a DPH spokeswoman, said that as of Thursdaythe guidelines were still being formulated.

"We're developing an educational pamphlet that will includeinformation on the proper use and safe disposal of needles, and itwill include a toll-free hot line that will include referrals onsubstance abuse, HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis C," said Rheaume. "Theinformation will be available in pharmacies and on the Internet."

According to the new law, the pamphlet will serve as aneducational insert that will be given to those who purchase thesyringes.

Gary Langis, HIV program manager for CAB Health & RecoveryServices in Lynn, hailed the new law as a step toward reducing thetransmission of AIDS and hepatitis C.

He is also waiting to receive state guidelines before he willrecommend placing a used syringe receptacle in his workplace. He saidthe used needle containers would benefit not just illegal substanceabusers, but diabetics, who would have more places to dispose oftheir needles.

"There should have been something like this a long time ago forpeople to properly dispose of their needles. We've been dragging ourfeet on this for a long time, and the state has been in the darkages," said Langis.

When the law takes effect tomorrow, Massachusetts will become the48th state to allow over-the-counter syringe sales.

But not everyone is convinced that the new law will reducetransmission of viruses.

Haverhill Police Sergeant John Arahovites said his departmentalready has a biohazard container where people can discard dirtyneedles.

While he is supportive of reducing any transmission of viruses,Arahovites said that sharing needles is commonplace and questionedwhether addicts would buy their own.

If the advocates "think it will reduce hepatitis C and HIV, great,but my experience is that most of the time people aren't packingtheir own personal needle. If we're getting a call about a cluster ofpeople at a crack house, not all have their own needle," he said.

Like Haverhill, Lynn also has a used needle collection containerat its police station, and cruisers are equipped with used syringecontainers.

Lynn Police Lieutenant Dave Brown said his department had notprepared any special policy regarding the new law.

"We want to encourage responsible disposal of the needles, andwith the increased availability of needles, we hope that there isn'tan increase in the improper disposal of them," Brown said.

In Swampscott, Police Chief Ronald Madigan said his department hasa used needle container, but he questioned how many people wouldbring their needles to the station.

"I don't see a lot of them being brought to the station,especially if they're used for illegal drug use," said Madigan.

Leno, who has been distributing free, clean needles to heroinusers for more than 20 years, says he now passes out 2,600 needles aweek in Haverhill, Lawrence, and Lowell.

Over the years, he has been arrested, and repeatedly threatenedwith arrest by different police departments. But with the new law,which also allows anyone 18 or over to carry an unlimited number ofhypodermic needles, Leno is breathing easier.

Leno said he would continue his weekly route, but believes thatmore people will take the initiative to buy legal needles frompharmacies, reducing the number he will distribute.

Leno, a former heroin addict, said he has been telling drug usersabout the new law for months.

On his rounds, Leno also gives people plastic containers to safelydispose of the needles, and believes most illegal drug users will doso. "They don't want to leave hazardous waste behind," said Leno.

"They don't want children or anybody to get hurt with a dirtyneedle, and they don't discard callously by any means. My experienceis that they're very responsible with their dirty equipment."