Academy Experts Available to Discuss Gov. Pataki???s Extension of a Law Allowing Needle Purchase Without a Prescription

NEW YORK CITY, April 15???Experts at The New York Academy of Medicine are available to discuss Gov. Pataki???s recent crucial decision to extend the state???s Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP) law through September 2007. Extension of this state law, which was to expire on March 31, is critically important to stemming the spread of infectious disease among injection drug users in New York. The law allows sterile syringes to be purchased over the counter without a prescription. Injection drug users often shared needles because they did not have a prescription to acquire them, as had long been mandatory in New York. The program also benefits diabetics who need syringes for medical injections, and owners of insulin-dependent pets.

When the ESAP law was adopted in 2000 on a three-year trial basis, opponents feared that it would result in more drug use, higher crime, and more discarded needles littering the sidewalks. The state Health Commissioner chose The New York Academy of Medicine as lead evaluator of the program. The Academy???s January, 2003 evaluation report to the Governor and the state legislature was integral to securing the program???s extension, finding that:

• Needle sharing among injection drug users has slightly declined since ESAP???s inception

• More and more pharmacies and drug users are participating in the program, though greater awareness is needed

• Discarded needles or syringes have not been found in higher quantities on the street as a result of this program

• No increases in drug-related criminal arrest, have occurred since this program began

• No increases in drug use or drug injections have been observed since ESAP began

Largely due to the sharing of needles, injection drug use has perpetuated New York City's HIV epidemic and the spread of other diseases for more than a decade. The Academy???s report concluded: ???The program has great potential to prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases without any detrimental effects on syringe disposal, drug use or crime.??? The report recommended that the ESAP law be adopted on a permanent basis. Only 14 other states require a prescription to purchase syringes.

Copies of the report are available to the media upon request.

Members of the Academy???s ESAP evaluation team who are available for interviews upon request:

Crystal Fuller, Ph.D., author of the Academy???s ESAP evaluation report

David Vlahov, Ph.D., Director of the Academy???s Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies

Ruth Finkelstein, ScD, Director of the Academy???s Office of Special Populations

Posted on April 15, 2003

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Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org

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