House votes to allow sale of syringes [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

House votes to allow sale of syringes
Foes see state encouraging use of drugs
By Scott Helman, Globe Staff | November 15, 2005

The Massachusetts House voted yesterday to legalize over-the-counter sale of hypodermic needles to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, potentially setting up a political showdown with Governor Mitt Romney over whether the bill will save lives or promote drug use.

The controversial measure, which would bring Massachusetts in line with 47 other states that allow syringes to be sold without a prescription, has long been championed by public health advocates, infectious disease doctors, and substance abuse specialists, who argue that it would vastly reduce incidence of AIDS, hepatitis C, and other diseases spread through the sharing of needles.

''This legislation is long overdue in this Commonwealth," Representative Peter J. Koutoujian, a Waltham Democrat and lead sponsor of the bill, said on the House floor. ''As soon as this legislation passes, it will save lives."

But it drew opposition from several-dozen other lawmakers, who said the change in state law would essentially encourage people to use drugs by making it easy for them to purchase needles at drugstores across the state.
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/11/15/house_votes_to_allow_sale_of_syringes/