BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers drew a hardline Wednesday, a vote in the Idaho Senate sends House Bill 617 to Governor Little’s desk. The pending law would simply repeal the Syringe and Needle Exchange Act.
Supporters of the repeal said they aren’t convinced the program really helps.
“There has been no local analysis of how the Idaho's needle exchange program has reduced needle stick injuries over the life of the program. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports that more than 1 million needles were collected, but only 937,000 were given back out,” said Republican Senator Carl Bjerke.
Republican colleagues agreed.
Republican Senator Chris Trakel said that giving free needles and a clean place to use is sending the wrong message.
Critics of the repeal, who support the exchange programs, said there is good data that supports what is an imperfect solution.
“According to Boise State study that was recently done, people that access syringe programs are five times more likely to access treatment, substance abuse disorder is a disease. It's chronic, it's progressive, and it needs treatment like any other disease. Harm reduction program is a place where it provides services for folks to come and try to exchange a needle or get other services,” said Democrat Senator Melissa Wintrow.
In short, needle exchange programs provide an option for addicts to get a clean needle to avoid HIV, AIDS, and other blood-borne diseases. The programs are also a center point for people looking for help beyond that. Critics of the programs said help is great, but this is not the way in their view.
“I'm a believer that we do need to help these people. But the way that this money was being used is not the right way. And so I'm all about completely supporting this bill. And if we want to come back and figure out another way to help these people, then great,” said Republican Senator Kevin Cook.
Back in February, police in Caldwell and Boise searched the offices of Idaho Harm Reduction, one of the hosts of the syringe exchange program. Investigators were searching for items outside the scope of needle exchange; they found drug paraphernalia. Idaho Harm Reduction has since indicated on its website that it has shut down. It was argued that bad actors were taking advantage of the program.
“To repeal the entire section of code because maybe there was a bad actor. There are many good actors. And those people. Those are the places where people's lives are in jeopardy,” Senator Wintrow added.
Still, supporters of the bill said the needle exchange program isn’t the right idea.
“AA doesn't hold their meetings in bars. They don't have an occasional drink while they're having the meetings because that's the enabler and that's what keeps them in that cycle. So I would urge for you to vote yea in support of this bill,” Senator Trakel said.
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