Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2008
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A Chicken in Every Pot (and Free Drug Needles for All)
Atlantic City is the home of the Oasis Drop Center. There, drug users exchange dirty drug needles for new ones. The new needles are paid for by taxpayers; even casino patrons contribute to the $50,000 in annual tax revenue Atlantic City gives Oasis to support drug habits.
Both state tax grants and city tax revenues fund the Oasis program, presenting an interesting dichotomy: it is illegal to possess hypodermic needles in New Jersey, yet it is legal to bring needles to Oasis. Here we have government talking out of both sides of its mouth: “Intravenous drugs and needles are illegal (psst, go to Oasis Drug Needle Drop Center for free needles, cookers and accessories).”
The dichotomy becomes worse when we look at the needle exchange’s effect on young people. The D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) goes to public schools teaching that drugs are bad. School administrators and government policies have created drug-free school zones. What happens when Oasis’ “public health” officials want to present their free drug needle program to schoolchildren?
In addition to needles, Oasis hands out drug paraphernalia, including free cookers and cleaning materials. Everything short of the heroine rock is available, free, at Oasis.
The needle exchange clientele is not limited to Atlantic City residents. IV drug users come from near and far to avail themselves of the free goodies. Atlantic City is in this way the IV drug destination of New Jersey.
Most people coming to Atlantic City take a gamble at some point during their trip. The Atlantic City government has ensured that casino visitors both gamble their own money, and pay for the needles of intravenous drug users who are gambling with their lives.
The needle exchange program—supposedly an attempt to improve the public health—is part of a growing hypocrisy in government. Our city government subsists on a diet of tax money to cure AIDS and hepatitis for breakfast, tax money to cure poverty and housing problems for lunch, and tax money to give free vacations, vehicles and cell phones to employees for dinner. Throw in the many variations of President Hoover’s “a chicken in every pot” promise for dessert, and we have a gluttonous, unbalanced $205 million budget. Atlantic City’s government is too big and over-reaching.
New casino, hotel, entertainment and real estate developments are broadening Atlantic City’s appeal and improving the quality of life. Unfortunately, programs like free needle and paraphernalia distribution give new meaning to the city’s status as an all-purpose destination resort.
