(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to preserve a choice given to California pharmacists to sell sterile syringes to adults without a prescription in order to prevent leading causes for the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
“Expanding safe syringe access saves lives by preventing the spread of deadly diseases,” said Ting. “Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists support this bill, which is why it is the law of the land in nearly every state. Even though drug use has grown in California, we have seen a reduction in disease among injection drug users because this policy works.”
Assembly Bill (AB) 1743 permanently gives pharmacists the choice to sell syringes to an adult without a prescription if the pharmacist meets uniform requirements for the provision of information and materials about safe syringe disposal, drug treatment access, and options for testing and treating HIV and hepatitis. Absent Ting’s bill, at the end of this year, most pharmacists lose this choice and sterile syringe access will be gone in most of the state. Only pharmacists in 15 counties and 4 cities will maintain the ability to sell syringes over the counter.
Sharing used syringes is the most common way hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread and the second most common cause of HIV and hepatitis B. 48 states besides California currently allow sterile syringe sales without a prescription.
“This bill is our chance for reason and compassion to prevail,” said Laura Thomas, Deputy State Director for the Drug Policy Alliance. “We must ensure that people who are at risk get the tools they need to avoid disease. By allowing adults to buy sterile syringes, we can prevent the transmission of potentially deadly infections and reduce the financial burden of associated treatment at no cost to taxpayers.”
“AB 1743 will help thousands of people throughout the state and reduce the burden of HIV and HCV on our public health system," said Neil Giuliano, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "As operator of one of the oldest and largest syringe access programs in the country, we know the significant impact that access to sterile syringes can have in preventing blood-borne illnesses like HIV and HCV among people in our community at high risk for infection."
From 2005-2010, a pilot program in 15 counties and 4 cities allowed pharmacists to sell syringes over the counter if the local government chose to be part of the pilot and the pharmacy first registered locally. Research subsequently conducted by the California Department of Public Heath found no evidence of an increase in drug use or crime in the state as a whole or in areas that authorized syringe sales without a prescription. It also found that the rate of syringe sharing among opt-in communities was lower than areas where syringes were not equally available.
AB 1743 passed with a 46-26 vote and moves to the State Senate for further review. Further information available at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Contact: Anthony Matthews (Ting), (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov