BIGOTRY FUELS FIRE

MY HEART and prayers go out to the noble workers at Casa Segura and the
people who they serve.

The deliberate destruction of their offices will be a hard crisis to
overcome, but I hope that the community can come together to rebuild and
continue the important work that they do.

The value of needle exchange programs in preventing the spread of AIDS and
hepatitis, reducing drug abuse, and saving lives can't be overstated.

Every established medical, scientific and legal body to study the issue
concurs that needle exchange programs save lives without encouraging
illegal drug use -- including the National Academy of Sciences, the
American Medical Association, the American Bar Association, the U.S.
Conference of Mayors, the American Public Health Association, the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, and both President Bush's and President
Clinton's AIDS Advisory Commissions.

It's a sad commentary on our current political environment that the bigotry
towards those suffering from drug addiction has now led to attacks against
those trying to save lives.

Unless politicians stop demonizing drug users and start promoting policies
that deal with the issue of drug abuse in a more compassionate and rational
way, we can expect such bigotry to fuel more fires.

Bill Piper, Associate Director, Public Policy and Legislative Affairs, The
Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation, Washington, D.C.