HHS-SPONSORED FORUM TOUTS 'HARM REDUCTION'

The Department of Health and Human Services is one of the "primary
sponsors" for an upcoming Salt Lake City conference on methamphetamines
whose organizers back the "harm reduction" approach to drug policy, which
Republicans see as form of legalization.

Rep. Mark Souder, Indiana Republican, said in an angry letter sent Friday
to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael O. Leavitt that the
conference's approach to end the nation's "war on drugs" in favor of
programs that try to limit drugs' harmful effects undercuts federal policy.
"That administration officials from your department are consulting with
harm reduction advocates ... and sponsoring conferences controlled by the
harm reduction network completely undermines the work of the President, the
Congress and the men and women who work in law enforcement across the
nation who are trying desperately to fight the meth epidemic," wrote Mr.
Souder, chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on criminal
justice, drug policy and human resources.

Mr. Souder asked Mr. Leavitt to respond to him by this afternoon with an
explanation about why HHS is involved with the conference and the names and
contact information of HHS staff members who plan to attend. A phone call
to HHS was not returned yesterday.

Luciano Colonna, executive director of the Harm Reduction Project and
conference organizer, said HHS was listed as a primary sponsor of the
conference because it gave $3,000 in travel scholarships to participants.
Other government agencies funding the conference include the Utah
Department of Health, the Utah State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
Health, and the California Department of Health Services. Mr. Colonna said
his conference will explore the methamphetamine issue and how it is playing
a role in the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. The conference was praised
in March by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, and in May by Rep. Jim
Matheson, Utah Democrat. Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug
Policy Alliance and a conference speaker, said "harm reduction" is a proven
approach used in other countries.

Mr. Souder and others, however, see "harm reduction" as a cover for those
who want to legalize drugs.

The Drug Policy Alliance is funded by billionaire George Soros, who
supports drug legalization. Mr. Nadelmann has appeared on PBS "Firing Line"
debates supporting the legalization of at least some drugs. Shepherd Smith,
president of the Institute for Youth Development in Washington, said even
the titles of the conference sessions show they aren't connected to healthy
anti-drug policies.

As examples, he pointed to "We Don't Need a 'War' on Methamphetamine," "You
Don't Have To Be Clean & Sober. Or Even Want To Be" and "Without Condoms"
on the "harm reduction" approach to unprotected homosexual sex. Such
sessions "really lead kids into harm and not away from it," Mr. Smith said.