Southeastern Massachusetts Mobile Newsroom
Needle Exchange Lands Women in Jail
NEW BEDFORD (AP) -- An advocate for making clean needles available to drug addicts is under arrest in New Bedford after she gave a new syringe away in exchange for a dirty one. Kelli Dorsey was a volunteer working at one of five information and exchange booths set up across the state today to bring attention to the issue.
New Bedford police arrested Dorsey and confiscated other clean needles after she made one exchange. Other needle stations were set up in Worcester and Lawrence, and volunteers manned information booths on needle safety in Lynn and Springfield.
Legislation that would have made needles available without a prescription stalled on Beacon Hill as lawmakers ended their session Saturday. Advocates say needles reduce rates of H-I-V and Hepatitis C without increasing drug use.
|
