Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will anyone be able to purchase syringes from a participating pharmacy?

A: Anyone who is over 18 years of age may purchase ten or fewer hypodermic needles or syringes without a prescription from participating pharmacies that are registered with the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. Minors will not be allowed to purchase hypodermic needles or syringes.

Q: Will pharmacies be obligated to sell syringes without a prescription?

A: Pharmacies may participate in the DPDP on a voluntary basis. SB 1159 provides the option for pharmacists to sell 10 or fewer or fewer hypodermic needles or syringes without a prescription but does not require them to do so.

Q: Will pharmacy access to sterile syringes really reduce the rates of HIV and hepatitis?

A: The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have reported that injection drug use accounts for nearly one-third of all AIDS cases and one-half of hepatitis C cases in the U.S. 1 In response to the need for preventive strategies, the U.S. Public Health Service and several institutions and governmental bodies have recommended the once only use of sterile syringes as the safest, most effective approach to limit HIV transmission and hepatitis B & C.1 Increased access to sterile syringes is a proven disease prevention strategy2 and contributes to the reduction in rates of HIV transmission without increasing drug use or rates of injection.3,4 The decline of HIV and hepatitis infection among IDUs will lead to reduced transmission among their sexual partners, their children and the general population. 4

Q: Will increased access to needles contribute to more injection drug use?

A: Mounting evidence has suggested that providing access to sterile needles does not contribute to an increase in injection drug use but rather assists in getting individuals into drug counseling and treatment.3,6,7

Q: Will the availability of pharmacy syringe sales without a prescription contribute to more dirty needles being discarded on the streets and other public places?

A: Based on the experiences of other states with pharmacy syringe sales, disposal problems are unlikely to occur. 8 SB 1159 requires pharmacists to provide information on safe needle disposal options to encourage proper disposal and help divert syringes and needles from being improperly discarded in the trash, on the streets, and in other places in the community where they may pose a risk and potential hazard. SB 1159 also makes it illegal to discard a hypodermic needle or syringe on playgrounds, beaches, parks or any public or private elementary, vocational, junior high or high school and violation is punishable by a fine ($200-$2000), imprisonment (up to six months), or both. 9

Q: Why are we providing access to needles instead of helping users get into treatment?

A: The CDC recommends a comprehensive approach to working with IDUs which includes drug treatment options, community-based outreach, access to sterile syringes and HIV testing and counseling.4 Pharmacists will serve as front-line educators, providing verbal counseling, information and referrals to drug treatment options, HIV testing and counseling and other social services. Pharmacy syringe sales have been shown to assist with entry into drug counseling and treatment and complement existing community-based needle exchange programs and drug treatment options by providing IDUs, who will not or cannot seek treatment, or who are in treatment but continue to inject drugs, with access to clean needles and other services.1 It is important to remember that relapse is common among drug users and by providing access to syringes, those individuals that relapse will have access to clean, sterile syringes.10

Q: Will this law cost tax payers more money?

A: SB 1159 is not a government sponsored program so money from taxpayers will not be used to fund the program. In fact, this law will actually save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by preventing the spread of disease, such as HIV and hepatitis. The use of dirty needles causes the majority of new hepatitis cases each year and results in an annual cost of $15,000 to $20,000 per infection to treat liver disease. 5 By preventing these diseases from occurring, money to treat these diseases will be saved.

Q: Will increased access to needles only benefit injection drug users?

A: Pharmacy sales of syringes will benefit a larger segment of the population other than injection drug users. The availability of syringes and needles for purchase through a participating pharmacy will benefit individuals who use syringes and needles to treat medical conditions that require injections, such as diabetes, hepatitis and allergies.

Q: The idea of pharmacy-based syringe access seems really progressive. Who supports this idea?

A: SB 1159 is supported by physicians, nurses, pharmacists, healthcare workers, AIDS and liver disease educators. 5

  • In California, SB 1159 Is Supported By:
    • AIDS Healthcare Foundation
    • AIDS Project LA
    • California Medical Association
    • California Nurses Association
    • California Pharmacists’ Association
    • California Retailers’ Association
    • Drug Policy Alliance Network
    • San Francisco AIDS Foundation
    • Walgreen’s
    • American Liver Foundation
    • International Union United Food & Commercial Worker, AFL-CIO
  • National Groups That Support Pharmacy Sales Without A Prescription:
    • American Academy of Pediatrics
    • American Bar Association AIDS Coordinating Committee
    • American Pharmaceutical Association
    • American Public Health Association
    • National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
    • National Association of County & City Health Officials
    • National Alliance of State AIDS Directors
    • National Association of State Controlled Substance Authorities
    • U.S. Conference of Mayors

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Access to Sterile Syringes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/idu/facts/aed_idu_acc.htm. Accessed August 29, 2005.

2 The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation. Research Brief: Syringe Access. Available at: www.lindesmith.org/docUploads/syringe_access_brief.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2005.

3 Normand J, Vlahov D, Moses LE eds. Preventing HIV transmission: the role of sterile needles and bleach. Washington (DC): National Academy Press, 1995.

4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Strategies and Attitudes: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Blood-borne Infections among IDUs. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/idu/idu.htm. Accessed August 26, 2005.

5 Background Information About Senate Bill 1159 (Vasconcellos) Pharmacy Syringe Sale and Disease Prevention Demonstration Project. Available at: www.chipolicy.org/pdf/5609.SB%201159%20background.pdf. Accessed July 11, 2005.

6 Miller CL, Tyndall M, Spittal P, Li K, Palepu A, Schechter MT. Risk Taking Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users Who Obtain Syringes from Pharmacies, Fixed Sites, and Mobile Van Needle Exchanges. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. 2002: 79(2): 257-265.

7 Burris S, Lurie P, Abrahamson D, Rich JD. Physician Prescribing of Sterile Injection Equipment to Prevent HIV infection: Time for Action. Ann Intern Med. 2000; 133:218-226.

8 AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Coalition for Responsible Syringe Policy. Available at: http://www.aidschicago.org/pdf/syringe_disposal.pdf. Accessed July 18, 2005.

9 California Department of Health Services. Summary of Senate Bill 1159 (Vasconcellos). Available at: www.cchealth.org/groups/aids/pdf/sb_1159_bill_summary.pdf. Accessed July 18, 2005.

10 Multiple authors. Supplement to the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 2002; 42: S1-S119. Available at: www.aphanet.org/JAPHA/suppl2_cdc.pdf. Accessed July 12, 2005.