The Pharmacy Access bill passed with an overwhleming margin in the House of Representatives on Monday. Now it's time for the Senate vote. Call your Senator today so that he or she knows there is support for this measure in the district from the outset. Tell them:

• Massachusetts is one of only three states left in the country prohibits sales of needles without prescriptions.
  
  
• 39% of people living with HIV/AIDS and 60% of the Hepatitis C cases are needle related.
  
  
• This bill will save lives AND YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN!

If you are not sure who your Senator is click here.

The Senate is our final hurdle before the bill goes to the Governor. Your call can make sure it gets to his desk!

• Who do I call? What do I say? ...
  
  
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• Find out who your Senator is ...

from the Boston Globe ...

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." ...

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an email from Rebecca Haag of AIDS Action Committee

We have just heard that the Pharmacy Access Bill (H.4176) may come up for a vote on the floor of the House as soon as TOMORROW. We must act NOW to ensure that we have the votes necessary for the bill's passage. We need you to call your State Rep TODAY and ask them to vote YES for House Bill 4176.

Tell them:

• Massachusetts is one of only three states left in the country that has not enacted similar legislation.
  
  
• 39% of people living with HIV/AIDS and 60% of the Hepatitis C cases are needle related.

This bill will save lives AND YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Email your Representative

Call your Representative

When the date and time of the vote has been confirmed, we will be asking all who are able to meet at the State House. We want to have a strong visual presence. Our elected officials need to see that this bill is important to people from across the state. We hope that you will be able to attend. If you have any questions or need more information please contact me. Make your call today. Save a life tomorrow.

Thank you.

Rebecca Haag
Executive Director
AIDS Action Committee

wow, what a website! ...

$yringate

When Australian Prime Minister John Howard promised a $30 million trial of retractable syringes in November 2001 the harm reduction sector saw it as another attack on the human rights of people who use illicit drugs. Three years later, the trial has commenced and we are still framing our response on the basis that the trial is part of John Howard's war on drugs.

Little did we that know that the trial of retractable syringes in our needle/syringe programs (NSPs) is really a smokescreen for a global push to capitalise on the latest medical novelty device. The retractable syringe is a mega-fraud of chilling proportions by corporate snake-oil salesmen aided and abetted by corrupt politicians.

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from the Chicago Tribune ...

Storm chaos cuts help for addicts
Recovery programs, clinics jammed by patients set adrift
By John Keilman
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 9, 2005

At the Baton Rouge Treatment Center, people suffering a unique, hurricane-related misery have poured in by the hundreds, waiting as long as two hours each day for relief.

The center is one of the few places remaining in Louisiana where they can get methadone, a medication given to those addicted to heroin or other opiate drugs. Without it, they face a harrowing withdrawal certain to compound their already considerable despair.

The suffering of drug addicts might not garner much public sympathy in the face of the overwhelming agony stirred by Hurricane Katrina, but some say it's a plight not to be ignored.

"They're people. Don't we care about the people?" said Kathleen Kane-Willis, a Roosevelt University researcher who has pushed for greater aid for displaced heroin addicts. "Why should we make a judgment that the people who use drugs aren't deserving of care?". ...

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press release from the National Alliance of Methadone Addicts ...

NAMA to Provide Information to States Affected by Hurricane Katrina

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Chapters and International Affiliates of NAMA, we request all possible assistance in enabling patients from New Orleans and other affected areas of the Gulf Coast, to continue treatment in some form and avoid excruciating rapid withdrawals in addition to everything else they are going through.

The situation for patients is unprecedented, and calls for a pro-active and aggressive response on the part of providers and regulators is required.

Specifically, we request that:

1. CSAT expand and make maximum use of procedures including those for Interim Treatment for rapid transfer and hardship Exceptions for take-home doses, including publicizing the availability of new procedures to SMAs and providers in the region.

2. Publicize the ability of licensed MDs to prescribe methadone for up to 28 days for addiction, through state medical societies and similar bodies who may be in contact with general physicians.

3. Commend the Louisiana SMA for their efforts so far.

4. CSAT should create emergency guidelines for accepting patients from the affected areas. For example, instructions for medicating patients that may not have identification or be able to validate their dose. Many patients will be exhibiting classic withdrawal and professionals should be able to access this and provide adequate medication.

5. CSAT staff contact every clinic in the states that are affected and adjacent states that will see evacuated patients (especially Texas, but also Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Mississippi, etc.), and notify these states of any emergency procedures adopted, to reassure them of the legality of procedures and encourage a pro-active response. AATOD can coordinate with provider associations.

6. CSAT expedite the creation of a few "emergency dosing" stations through existing emergency medical providers based in areas (especially the Houston Astrodome and other major reception shelters in Texas) where we might expect a relatively larger concentration of patients without any means of transport to other facilities.

7. CSAT set up a help line for providers and patients to ask questions.

8. Allow pain patients who may be taking methadone and cannot access their medication to receive assistance until they can be transferred to other medical services.

9. Notify NAMA what measures are being taken, we will attempt to publicize them as much as we can.

A letter has been sent to Dr. Westley Clark of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Mark Parrino of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence listing the same recommendations.

The NAMA website will try to provide accurate information for patients affected by the emergency. Any organizations providing services may contact us with the information for posting on the website.

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