Carson commends responsible move to study needle exchange programs

Concord, NH – Today, the Senate passed a bill, HB 1681, which would establish a commission to study the disposal and exchange of hypodermic needles containing residual amounts of controlled substances.

Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) issued a statement following the vote.

“The heroin crisis continues to be a major concern for the state and we are working to combat this issue from every angle possible. The bill we passed today is a responsible step towards finding a solution to lessen the occurrence of addicts sharing or using dirty needles, and also addresses the concerns raised of there being few parameters or guidelines established for proper disposal of left-over drugs in used needles.”

“Today’s compromise is important because it bring all the stakeholders together so future legislation avoids unintended consequences. This bill creates a forum where all parties involved can work to include necessary guidelines, but also protects those collecting needles with small amounts of illegal substances and protecting users from contracting serious diseases.”