NEEDLE EXCHANGE SAVES LIVES

Regarding Sarah-Kate Sharkey And Riann Nel's Sept. 24 Commentary
Article In The Register-Guard:

The HIV Alliance is to be commended for its life-saving work in Lane
County. Needle exchange programs have been shown to reduce the spread
of HIV without increasing drug use. They also serve as a bridge to
drug treatment for an especially hard-to-reach population. Drug users
are not the only beneficiaries.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 percent
of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the
United States are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners
who inject drugs. This easily preventable public health crisis is a
direct result of zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let's hope
tough-on-drugs politicians acknowledge the drug war's tremendous
collateral damage sooner rather than later.

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.