Associated Press

Friday, 05 May 2000

NY OKS NON-PRESCRIPTION NEEDLE BUYS

ALBANY, N.Y. - New Yorkers will soon be able to buy hypodermic

needles without a prescription, a move aimed at inhibiting the spread

of the AIDS virus.

``This is going to save tens of thousands of lives by virtually

eliminating needle sharing,'' said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a

Manhattan Democrat. ``It's a tragedy we weren't able to do this a

decade ago.''

New York will become the 42nd state to allow the practice when the law

takes effect Jan. 1. The measure, included in the budget package

signed into law Thursday and Friday, applies to those 18 and older.

The law drew criticism from Assemblyman Robert Straniere, a Republican

from Staten Island, who referred to it as a ``quantum leap forward for

the legalization of drugs in New York.''

Marty Algaze, a spokesman for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc., a New

York-City based AIDS organization, applauded the legislation.

Algaze said there have been 139,063 cases of AIDS reported in New York

state, with 84,065 deaths. More than half of current cases were caused

by the sharing of HIV-contaminated syringes or sexual contact with a

person who was infected through sharing needles.

The law requires that a pamphlet be included with needles on the

proper use and disposal of syringes and the dangers of drug use and

needle sharing. It will also have an HIV hotline number.