Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON STATE : Judge OKs Needle Exchange Program
From Times staff and Wire reports
The legality of the nation’s first hypodermic-needle exchange program has been upheld by a judge in Tacoma, Wash. Superior Court Judge Robert Peterson said there is only preliminary proof that the program is slowing the spread of AIDS but added: “To wait until you get that concrete, specific evidence is too late.” Each week, health workers at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department distribute about 2,000 clean needles to drug users in return for used ones.
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