The bill that will allow Texas to finally start running a needle-exchange program finally passed through Senate Friday. Senate Bill 308 comes with a quite surprising co-sponsor – Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Mesquite. It allows the Department of State Health Services, local health agencies, and other approved organizations to run a one-for-one and (importantly) anonymous needle-exchange program. Deuell, who is never knowingly soft on drugs, said that he has become convinced that such programs not only decrease the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and a swath of other life-threatening diseases but also help reduce the number of addicts; the more contact they have with needle-exchange projects, the better the chance those programs can put them in contact with rehab programs.

Currently, Texas is the only state that does not have state-run needle-exchange programs. It’s still not a done deal, since the Senate vote was only 23-8, and it has to get through the House before the end of the session, but that 23-8 meant that Deuell was joined by 11 of his fellow GOPers and a straight Democrat slate. So finger’s crossed on a proven and cost-effective health measure.

See our own Jordan Smith’s article for a more thorough run-down on what the bill will achieve.

This article appears in April 27 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.