In the Works

THE DISTRICT IS READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

AMONG THE tragic data in the District's recently released HIV-AIDS
study, the statistic on intravenous drug use is the most infuriating.
Why? Because the tool needed to slow transmission of HIV by this route
is well understood, but Congress forbids the District from using its
own money to pay for it. We're talking about needle exchange.

In response to the report's finding that the two most common modes of
HIV transmission in the District were heterosexual sex (37 percent)
and men having sex with men (27 percent), Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)
announced Monday that more condoms would be distributed at no charge
and that he would push for increased HIV testing in emergency rooms.
Yet, when it comes to plans for addressing the third most common
transmission route, IV drug use (14 percent), Mr. Fenty was silent.

That's not because the city is without a plan. It's ready to send an
instant infusion of cash to Prevention Works!, the District's only
needle-exchange program, to expand its services. Additional programs
would be created after a request for proposals was issued to local
health-care, substance-abuse and HIV-AIDS agencies. Money has been
budgeted. Officials say a comprehensive substance-abuse and
HIV-prevention plan will be completed by June 2008 and implemented by
October.

But none of this can happen until Congress drops its harmful
prohibition. Since 1998, the District has been forbidden to use its
own money to fund needle exchanges. Opponents of these programs
believe providing clean needles to addicts encourages drug use; they
ignore evidence that such efforts greatly reduce the risk of
contracting or spreading HIV. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and
Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) succeeded in getting the ban eliminated
in the House this year. Now the city is waiting for the Senate to
approve on an omnibus budget bill, which could happen next month. The
sooner the better. The longer the District is denied the freedom to
use its own money to help its own residents, the more lives will be
needlessly put at risk.