Public health advocates in California have been working to prevent the spread of disease among injection-drug users by making needles available at pharmacies without a prescription. Unfortunately, when the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors had the opportunity to legalize sales of needles last year, they gave in to misinformation and fear that increasing access to clean needles would increase drug use. Studies have found that increased syringe access decreases infection such as HIV and Hepatitis C – not that it encourages people to do more drugs.

Chances are good that you live in a state where you can get needles at a pharmacy (only five states require prescriptions in order to buy syringes) – does that mean you're going to start doing drugs? Or, consider this hypothetical scenario: if you are addicted to drugs, would you shoot up less if you couldn't get clean needles? Sadly, that too is unlikely. In reality, you would probably just reuse needles, increasing the chances of spreading disease – which is why access to sterile syringes and needle exchange programs are significant for public health.

Soon the Sacramento City Council will decide whether or not residents need a prescription to purchase syringes. I hope that they consider the facts and join the fight to prevent disease instead of choosing ignorance and fear.