Bill > S1077

Introduced Session

This bill requires pharmacies to sell hypodermic needles and syringes to any customer over the age of 18. Under current law, needles and syringes may be sold in quantities of up to 10 without a prescription, and in quantities of more than 10 only with a valid prescription. Current law provides that over-the-counter sales of needles and syringes is allowed, but not required. This bill will make such sales mandatory, and will additionally require pharmacies to post a sign at the pharmacy sales counter advising consumers of the right to purchase needles and syringes pursuant to the bill. The ability to purchase up to 10 hypodermic syringes or needles without a prescription first took effect in 2011, with the enactment of P.L.2011, c.183 (C.2C:36-6.2 et seq.). The 2011 law was designed both to facilitate access to individuals who use syringes or needles to administer medication, such as diabetic insulin users, as well as to help make clean syringes and needles available to intravenous drug users, thereby helping prevent the spread of bloodborne diseases such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Under the 2011 law, pharmacies selling needles and syringes are required to make information concerning the safe disposal of used syringes and needles and information concerning substance abuse treatment available to all purchasers. It is the sponsor's belief that requiring pharmacies to sell hypodermic syringes and needles to any consumer over the age of 18 and to a post a sign notifying consumers of their rights with regard to purchasing clean hypodermic syringes and needles will help promote the public health interests that the original 2011 law sought to advance.

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Joe Vitale (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/31/2022)

Official Document