RIAFP Policy
Brief: 8/29/00
Decriminalization of Sale of Syringes
The Rhode Island
Academy of Family Physicians is dedicated to preserve and promote
quality cost-effective health care. As citizen-physicians, we are
concerned by the devastation wreaked upon lives by drug abuse. However,
we support the decriminalization of syringe sale or possession in
order that we can more effectively deal with the scourge of blood
borne diseases including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. We
in Rhode Island are one of only four states where a majority of our
AIDS cases are related to injection drug use. Although drug abuse
has its own deadly outcomes, we do not believe government should foster
further devastation by forcing the reuse of needles and syringes among
a population whose addiction drives them to unsafe practices. At a
time when evidence is the bulwark of medical practice, there is no
evidence that accessible needles or syringes will worsen the drug
abuse problem.
This is one
in a series of reports designed to advance Family Practice and primary
care in Rhode Island's health care system, as well as to discuss public
health issues of importance to all Rhode Islanders.
We welcome
the opportunity to further discuss the issues presented here. We can
be reached by phone at 401-453-4176, or by email at info@riafp.org.
8/29/00
