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| SPONSOR: | Maes | DATE TYPED: | 02/08/01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Permit Sale of Hypodermic Syringes | SB | 320 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Rael | ||||||
| Subsequent
Years Impact |
Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||
| FY01 | FY02 | |||
|
No Fiscal Impact | ||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The Permit Sale of Hypodermic Syringes bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to permit the sale of syringes by licensed pharmacists. Other changes are technical, clean-up changes.
Significant Issues
Allowing licensed pharmacists to sell syringes is considered by many to be the least costly method, and the method that would require the least level of oversight, of addressing the spread of blood born pathogen diseases.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
In 1999, the nation's key healthcare groups supported a movement to change the nation's drug paraphernalia laws to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. These groups included the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the American Medical Association, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.
The debate over allowing pharmacists to sell syringes is between those who fear that it will legitimize illegal drug use, and those who feel that it is a significant step toward controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C - particularly when the state often has to provide medical care for these individuals.
This bill amends the law to allow pharmacists to sell syringes. However, the average person may still be charged for possession of a syringe as paraphernalia under the law.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Would a prescription be required to allow pharmacists to sell syringes?
FAR/njw:ar