CLEAN NEEDLES

I'm glad Bill Clinton finally recognizes needle exchange programs prevent
the spread of HIV ("Clinton voices AIDS regrets," July 12).

I wish he would have listened to his secretary of Health and Human
Services, Donna Shalala, in 1998 when she said, "A meticulous scientific
review has now proven that needle exchange programs can reduce the
transmission of HIV and save lives without losing ground in the battle
against illegal drugs." As 16,000 new HIV infections each year are said to
be among people who inject drugs, that means 64,000 cases of HIV could have
been prevented.

It's time to take an aggressive approach and use tools that work. A
worldwide survey in 1997 found that HIV among injection drug users
decreased 5.8 percent per year in cities with exchange programs and
increased 5.9 percent in cities without such programs. Instead of banning
federal funding for programs that distribute clean needles, HIV prevention
dollars should be made available for needle exchange programs.

KAREN HEIKKALA

Regional Director

Drug Policy Forum of Texas

Austin