What is your take on New Jersey giving out clean needles to drug users?

Atlantic City and several other cities in NJ are giving drug users sterile needles to slow the spread of HIV and AIDS. is this a good idea?.. or is it encouraging drug usage?

That same program significantly lessened the HIV problem in Amsterdam, without the drug use problem increasing with it.

Some people are going to use drugs, regardless of what you do/say. At least give them a means to stay disease free.

My home state is overwhelmingly liberal. So this does not surprise me in the least.

It is a good idea (if it serves its purpose)and it does encourage the use.

Edit;
Come to think of it, it may actually provide more people with needles being handed out causing more use.

Good idea, not as much disease spread.

When they get to this level of drug use they will get the drugs dirty needle or not, so its a good idea.

It is not my concern since I am not a citizen of NJ. It is nobody elses business except people that live in NJ.

Well,they will sell the needles on the street and I don't see how it cuts down on drug usage. Disease,maybe,but not taking drugs.

As long as it ain't coming out of my tax dollars, I have no problem. If it is, then it's gonna bother me. Why try to encourage drug use, especially with tax dollars?

Is this how we fight the drug war? Give clean needles? This is stupid.

looks like they are taking the lesser of two evils and using it to combat the first. Assuming they can't find a more productive way to slow the spread of HIV then yes.. it's a good idea. This doesn't mean they should stop trying to find other ways or stop trying to get people off of drugs.. and I'm sure they will continue those battles... it's a short term bandaid though... and a decent one.

Good idea, and I don't think it encourages drug use.

I think it is a good idea. An addict will shoot up with whatever he/she can. Better a clean needle than a used one. Next step is to get them into rehab.

You've got to be kidding me that New Jersey's residents tax dollars are being used like that!

The needles aren't going to stay clean, and af course it promotes drug use...Lets hand out fresh ski masks for robbers too to stop the spread of lice.

yikes