PROGRAM TO ASSIST DRUG USERS GETS GRANTS

HIV Alliance has received $60,000 from two foundations that will allow
it to continue and expand its needle exchange program for intravenous
drug users, the alliance announced Thursday.

The Drug Policy Foundation awarded HIV Alliance $20,000 in December to
help cover the purchase and maintenance of the van out of which the
program is conducted. The money will also help pay the cost of
training and supporting volunteers to run the program.

The Northwest Health Foundation gave the agency $40,000 in late
November to help train volunteers, pay for staff and supplies, and
provide financial assistance to addicts wanting to enter detox programs.

The program - launched in August and backed by modest private
donations - has exchanged more than 13,000 clean needles for used
ones. The effort is aimed at reducing transmission of HIV and other
blood-borne diseases among injection drug users, their partners and
children through an intervention that includes syringe exchange and,
if requested, help seeking HIV testing and drug treatment.

The grants will enable the program to expand from Eugene into other
areas of Lane County to reach underserved residents, particularly
rural and migrant populations.

These grants also help HIV Alliance reach other project objectives
such as increasing the number of injection drug users in treatment
programs and increasing the number of high-risk individuals seeking
HIV counseling and testing.