NEEDLE EXCHANGE

After weeks of addressing the threat of anthrax, smallpox and other
microbes to the health of Vermonters, Gov. Howard Dean recently recommitted
to protecting Vermonters from a more immediate threat: HIV/AIDS. Dean said
he would like to see HIV/AIDS "put back on the front burner." I hope he
means it.

HIV is most often transmitted through sex and needle sharing. Providing
broad access to free condoms and sterile syringes is the single most
important thing we can do to protect our communities.

Injection drug use is increasingly common in Vermont. More and more people,
many in their teens and early 20s, are injecting heroin and other drugs.
For those who share syringes and their sexual partners, HIV infection is a
serious threat.

Needle-exchange programs are scientifically proven to dramatically reduce
HIV transmission without increasing drug use overall or via injection.
Vermont law provides for the establishment of needle-exchange programs.
Dean supported and signed the law, but so far he hasn't done much to make
needle exchange a reality in Vermont.

In his recent travels to Africa to attend a conference on HIV/AIDS, I hope
the governor took some time to consider two important steps he can take to
prevent HIV transmission here at home: First, he should make it a personal
goal to make needle exchange a reality statewide before his term ends.
Second, he should commit to making state funding available for needle
exchange. Without such funding, Vermont will continue to face the
biological threat of HIV/AIDS without the infrastructure it needs to
protect our citizens.

TOM DALTON Burlington