Pubdate: Sun, 24 Feb 2008
Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Copyright: 2008 Courier-Post
Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/about/edletter.html
Website: http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

CAMDEN'S NEEDLE EXCHANGE HOBBLED BY LACK OF FUNDING

The program lacks adequate means to fulfill its mission  to stop
addicts from spreading HIV through infected  syringes.

If more money is not put into Camden's fledgling  needle-exchange
program, it could fail to cut the  transmission of AIDS as it was
intended to do.

After years of debate, New Jersey legislators finally  approved
needle-exchange programs for four cities,  including Camden and
Atlantic City. It was the last  state in the union to recognize that
needle exchanges  didn't encourage crime. Rather, such programs help
break the link between the sharing of dirty needles  among addicts and
the transmission of the AIDS virus.  New Jersey has the fifth highest
number of AIDS cases  in the nation, but is second in people who
contract the  virus through injection-drug use.

With its methadone clinics, poverty and drug markets,  Camden is a
magnet for drug users. It has one of the  state's highest
HIV-infection rates. Yet, its  needle-exchange program is run on a
shoestring budget.

Earlier this month, the program had registered just 10  people,
compared with the dozens of registrants the  adequately funded
Atlantic City program has signed up.

The state's needle exchange programs are being  evaluated to determine
how much they are helping to  stem the spread of HIV and steer people
toward  treatment. But it would be grossly unfair to judge the  Camden
program until it receives more funding. The  $75,000 in private funds
just doesn't support proper  outreach. The county should put some
money into this  program. It isn't only Camden's problem. Many of the
addicts in the city live or migrate from neighboring  municipalities.
And adequate funding would not only  help reduce infection rates, but
also hold down costs  for charity care and other programs often relied
upon  by AIDS patients.

We urge Camden County officials, as well as private  donors from
around the area, to support this effort to  help stop the spread of
the virus that causes AIDS. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake