OAKLAND CONTROVERSY OVER NEEDLE-SWAP PLAN

Battle lines are being drawn in Alameda County over a proposed study on the
effectiveness of a needle-exchange program in curbing the spread of HIV,
the AIDS virus, among drug addicts.

The county's AIDS Advisory Board asked the Board of Supervisors yesterday
to endorse a resolution to the Legislature calling for a controlled, pilot
study in black communities throughout the state.

However, a vote on the resolution was put off until November 5, after the
county's law enforcement agencies resisted the measure.

District Attorney John Meehan said the plan "encourages the use of drugs at
a time when we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel in the fight
against drug use."

The advisory panel said the study is necessary because "the rate of
increase . . . of HIV among injection drug users, their spouses and their
babies continues unabated" in the county.

Public distribution of hypodermic needles is illegal. Although Oakland and
Berkeley have already endorsed the resolution, Supervisor Mary King said
the board needs more expert testimony before making its decision.