Reinstate Fresno County Needle Exchange Immediately

Long-standing scientific evidence shows that needle exchanges prevent the spread of deadly and expensive diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, etc.) among the entire population; that needle exchanges do NOT encourage or increase the number of addicts; and that they actually help those seeking to end their addiction. Unfortunately, addicts will use dirty needles if clean ones are not available. It is deemed medically ethical to provide this program; and medically unethical to prevent its existence.

UPDATE:  Gov. Brown on 10/9/11 signed a law that eventually will make our exchange legal.  So, why keep signing?  Because we need to signal to these supervisors that they have not acted wisely and that they have not acted on our behalf but instead are playing to and fostering fear and prejudice. Long-standing research data absolutely contradict these supervisors' claims. Medicine today is "evidence based" as any well-educated, well-trained, and experienced health professional must know. Yet these three supervisors, one of whom is just such a health professional, are claiming that a needle exchange "is enabling," This position is fully contradicted by today's best research.

Fresno County is maturing, becoming more sophisticated and talented all the time. We need our County Supervisors to reflect these changes for the better and not hold onto the simplistic, ill-informed superstitions and prejudices of the past. This petition will help to remind them of this.

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