The Georgia House has overwhelmingly passed a proposal that would legalize programs giving drug users clean needles in exchange for used ones.
The measure aims to reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C infections among drug users who share needles. The House approved the bill 166-3 Monday. It now goes to the Senate.
Republican Rep. Houston Gaines of Athens, the bill's main supporter, says people who use needle exchange programs are far more likely to enter treatment programs.
“Today I was proud to introduce House Bill 217 to my house colleagues and we passed it 166 to 3 with overwhelming bipartisan support,” according to Gaines. “This will enable syringe services in Georgia. It’ll help us chip away at the opioid crisis, reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in our state. We’ve seen a significant increase in HIV and Hepatitis C.”
The needle-exchange proposal fits into part of a broader effort to deal with HIV and AIDS in Georgia. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Georgia fifth among U.S. states for new HIV infections in 2017.
“It will also protect nonusers from needle-stick injuries, including our first responders and it’ll save all Georgians healthcare costs, so I’m excited about the bill and looking forward to working with our friends in the senate and Governor Kemp to get this through the legislative process.”
Gaines says treating a lifelong HIV patient can cost more than $400,000.
