Pubdate: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) Copyright: 2006 Courier-Post Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826 Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n979/a01.html?247129 STOP THE SPREAD Re: "N.J. is woefully behind on needle exchanges" (editorial, July 26). Needle exchanges have been proven to reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use. They also serve as a bridge to drug treatment for an especially hard to reach population. Drug users are not the only beneficiaries. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers estimate that 57 percent of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the United States are linked to injection-drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs. This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of zero-tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let's hope New Jersey's tough-on-drugs politicians acknowledge the drug war's tremendous collateral damage sooner rather than later. ROBERT SHARPE, Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman