BETTER SYRINGE ACCESS PREVENTS SPREAD OF AIDS

Rock Hill's Gregory Doster is to be commended for his efforts to raise
awareness of the link between intravenous drug use and HIV. Needle-exchange
programs have been proven to reduce HIV transmission without increasing
drug use.

Unfortunately, such programs often give rise to a NIMBY reaction. An
alternative is syringe deregulation. Allowing drug users to purchase
needles in pharmacies without a prescription has the added benefit of not
costing taxpayers a dime. Regardless of the distribution mechanism, access
to clean needles is critical.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 percent of
AIDS cases among women are linked to injection drug use or sex with
partners who inject drugs.

Overall, 36 percent of AIDS cases in the U.S. can be traced back to
intravenous drug use. This easily preventable public health crisis is a
direct result of zero tolerance policies that restrict access to clean
syringes. In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let's hope
America's tough-on-drugs politicians acknowledge the drug war's tremendous
collateral damage sooner rather than later.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va.

Mr. Sharpe is program officer with the Drug Policy Alliance.