NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WOULD SAVE LIVES

Unfortunately, an estimated three out of four AIDS cases among women
are due to injected drug use or heterosexual contact with someone
infected with HIV through injected drug use, and over 75 percent of
new infections in children result from the consequences of injected
drug use in a parent.

Even those who take a strong stand against drug use must admit that
IV drug addicts do not really deserve to contract painful and deadly
diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. In addition, their children do not
deserve HIV or other intravenous diseases; they should not be
punished for the actions of their parents.

Needle exchange programs exist in various places around the country,
but thus far, the government has refused to fund such programs. In
doing so, the government has missed a good opportunity to stem the
spread of HIV, which is causing many, many deaths.

Continued drug use is an addiction. It is not something that can be
easily stopped, and addicts are going to continue using drugs with or
without clean needles. At least with needle exchange programs, the
spread of HIV and other similarly transferred diseases could be
lessened.

A decrease of even the smallest amount would be a significant
improvement. Between 1991 and 1997, the U.S. government funded seven
reports on clean needle programs for persons who inject drugs. The
conclusions were unanimous that clean needle programs reduce HIV
transmission, and none found that clean needle programs cause rates
of drug use to increase. Such programs also offer resources and
support which could lead an addict into treatment.

JULIA REYNOLDS
Scotia