Pubdate: Mon, 10 Apr 2006
Source: Daily Tar Heel, The (U of NC, Edu)
Copyright: 2006 DTH Publishing Corp
Contact:  http://www.dailytarheel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1949
Author: Caitlin Legacki
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

LEADERS PUSH FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE

RALEIGH - As a part of N.C. Students United for HIV Prevention, an 
energetic crowd of activists, legislators and health care providers 
gathered to rally for needle exchange programs and the passage of 
House Bill 411.

The bill, which would provide funding for three needle exchange pilot 
programs, is in committee in the N.C. House, which reconvenes next month.

About 100 people marched from Bicentennial Park to the Governor's 
Mansion and around the state capitol to encourage support of the bill.

"It's going to reduce the likelihood of people using unclean, dirty 
needles, and that's hopefully going to cause people to get involved 
in treatment and rehabilitation," said Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, 
D-Wilson, who supports the bill.

"And I think it's going to end up being cost effective in the long 
run. If you look at the cost of treating people with HIV, that's over 
$60,000 per person."

Opponents of needle exchange programs maintain that such programs 
actually encourage drug use and do nothing to solve the greater 
problem of addiction.

"People say that needle exchange only fuels drug abuse and 
addiction," said Nab Dasgupta, a graduate student in the UNC School 
of Public Health and research chairman for the N.C. Harm Reduction Coalition.

"The ultimate goal of needle exchange is to save lives, not only 
through the prevention of HIV, but also by reducing the amount of 
drugs being used."

Dasgupta said he decided to come to UNC because North Carolina 
doesn't have a legal needle exchange program in place and he wanted 
to lead the change.

Michael Harney also attended the rally Friday. He is an outreach 
worker at a needle exchange program in Asheville, one he describes as 
"illegal but tolerated."

The Needle Exchange Program of Asheville has been operating on 
private funds since 1994 with support from such groups as the 
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and philanthropist George Soros.

"We have never asked for state money, nor would we ask for state 
money," Harney said.

"I'm not asking the governor to put more money into our program. I'm 
asking him to make it legal that we can reach out to people who need 
our services."

A primary theme at the rally was that HIV and AIDS prevention is an 
issue that transcends cultural barriers.

"This is an issue that doesn't just affect people of color, but 
people of all communities, people of different races, people of 
different genders." said Joell Royal, a student at Bennett College 
for Women in Greensboro who participated in 2005 Black AIDS Institute 
Summer Internship Program in Los Angeles.

"My mom is HIV positive and she contracted the virus from intravenous 
drug use," she said, noting that she has worked to educate others 
about prevention since her mom was diagnosed.

"And I believe maybe if there was a needle exchange back then when 
she needed it, it would have lowered her risk for HIV."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman