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Nevada’s legislature repealed a law that made it illegal to
possess hypodermic needles or syringes, which will allow nonprofit
organizations to launch needle exchange or safe needle disposal harm reduction
programs. The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health must prepare
operational guidelines, which the state Board of Health must approve, before
organizations could implement any needle exchange programs. Proponents asserted
that needle exchange programs would greatly reduce hepatitis C and HIV risk for
illegal injection drug users. Estimates placed the lifetime cost of care for
hepatitis C at $500,000, and the lifetime healthcare cost of HIV at a minimum
of $355,000.
Prior to passage of Senate Bill (SB) 410, police could
arrest people for needle possession, and many illegal injection drug users hid
syringes in pockets or disposed of syringes in unsafe ways. As a result, police
and first responders were more likely to stick themselves with addicts’ needles
in the course of their work.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) took a neutral
position on SB 410 after the bill’s authors removed a clause that would also
have allowed for distribution/exchanges of clean crack pipes and other drug
paraphernalia. In addition to helping arresting officers and first responders,
Officer Chuck Callaway, MPD legislative lobbyist, stated the bill would make
parks where addicts gather safer for children and parents.
Opponents feared that removing hypodermic needles from the
list of prohibited devices would encourage drug use and allow for needle
giveaways to minors. However, Northern Nevada Hopes and other harm reduction
programs countered that inducing drug addicts to enter drug rehabilitation
programs was a primary goal. Spokesperson Abigail Polus stated that her
organization got to know drug users as people and gained their trust, hoping
they would enter rehabilitation.
