Source: USA TODAY
Page: 12A

LETTERS

Drug addiction is health problem, not moral issue

Antidrug czar Barry McCaffrey says providing syringes to intravenous drug
users sends "the wrong message" ("Needle exchanges still stir debate," News,
Thursday).

Drug use is a public health problem, not a moral issue. Those who treat it as
a question of morality are making a big mistake. Using his philosophy, the
message becomes, "You use drugs, therefore you are a bad person and deserve
the diseases you contract from your drug use." However, sooner or later,
people who don't use intravenous drugs will also be infected with these
diseases. Then what's the message?

Here's my message: Grab a clue and blow this "drug war" to smithereens.

Linda S. Collins
Merriam, Kan.
______

Syringe exchange is effective

"We're all concerned about the AIDS epidemic," said Family Research Council's
Robert Maginnis. He's obviously not sufficiently concerned to advocate for
one program known throughout the world to prevent the spread of AIDS among
and from drug injectors: syringe exchange.

Undersized and underfunded syringeexchange programs continue to save lives
across America while this rump group of irrational fanatics continues to
attempt to mislead Americans with ineptly constructed disinformation.

Syringe exchange is supported by more than a dozen highly respected
organizations. In opposition to those groups we have tobacco supporter Sen.
Jesse Helms, RN.C., plus Gary Bauer and his Family Research Council. I leave
it to the wisdom of your readers to decide in which hands the American people
should place the future of our nation's health.

Joey Tranchina, executive director
AIDS Prevention ACTION Network Inc.
Redwood City, Calif.
________

Exchange first step to cure

Barry McCaffrey speaks of a wrong message to kids. Give me a break. A far
worse message is sent when we allow addicts to contract and spread the AIDS
virus through unclean needles. More than 190,000 Americans have been infected
with HIV from infected needles. All of the government's own studies show that
needle exchanges dramatically reduce the transmission of the AIDS virus
without encouraging drug abuse. In fact, needle exchanges often refer addicts
to drugtreatment programs.

Let's be clear: People don't experiment with drugs, or stay on them, because
somebody gave them a clean needle.

Michael Shellenberger, codirctor
Communication Works
San Francisco, Calif.
________

Better message for kids

As a mother, I strongly disagree with Barry McCaffrey's statement that
needleexchange programs send "the wrong message" to people who are addicted
and trying to avoid HIV infection. These programs send the *right* message,
which is that we encourage you to protect yourself and your loved ones from
HIV so you can live, avoid HIV and get off drugs.

McCaffrey's stance also ignores the fact that seven federally funded
scientific studies have concluded that needleexchange programs work in
preventing HIV without increasing drug use.

American needle exchanges are structured to be operated as public health
programs so that used needles are actually traded in for clean syringes.

Needleexchange programs that have been instituted in the United States bear
no resemblance to those cited by the Family Research Council. Many U.S.
programs offer vouchers for quick access to drugtreatment programs. As such,
they provide a costeffective way to deliver critically needed health care
and education to a hardtoreach population.

We must provide these health messages to all of our children, including those
who are addicted.

Ann Kurth, executive director
Mothers' Voices
New York, N.Y.