Pubdate: Thu, 18 Mar 2004
Source: Business Day (South Africa)
Copyright: 2004 Business Day.
Contact:  http://www.bday.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2925
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n420/a04.html

NEEDLE MADNESS

Kudos to Jason Lott for making the case for harm reduction in his article, 
SA faces scourge of heroin as well as HIV (March 12). Needle-exchange 
programmes reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use. They also 
serve as a bridge to drug treatment for a hard-to-reach population. Drug 
users aren't the only beneficiaries.

Consider the tragic results of the US's tough-on-drugs approach. 
Researchers estimate that 57% of AIDS cases among women and 36% of overall 
AIDS cases in the US are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners 
who inject drugs.

This easily preventable crisis is a direct result of zero-tolerance laws 
that restrict access to clean syringes.

SA cannot afford to emulate the US's drug policies.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington DC 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake