San Diego mayor
wants needle-exchange program

San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican, plans to introduce a bill to the city council that would authorize a needle-exchange program to help fight the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among injection-drug users, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. A previous needle exchange was shut down in the city in mid 2005. Sanders plans to take advantage of a new state law that removes a requirement that California cities or counties must declare a public-health emergency every two weeks in order to operate a needle exchange. The mayor is scheduled to meet with the Alliance Healthcare Foundation to develop plans for a needle-exchange program before submitting legislation to the city council. Sanders expects to have a bill before the city lawmakers in March or April. (Advocate.com)