Pubdate: Mon, 11 May 1998 Source: Triangle Business Journal (Raleigh, NC) http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/1998/05/11/editorial2.html Section: Opinion, From The Left Copyright: 1998 American City Business Journals, Inc Contact: http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3185 Author: Chris Fitzsimon Note: Fitzsimon is executive director of the Common Sense Foundation, a Raleigh public policy group. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEEDLE EXCHANGE DEBATE MISSES POINT Political Considerations Win At Expense Of Facts, Science, People's Lives The recent controversy in the Clinton Administration over federal funding for a needle exchange program for drug users closely resembles the debate in state senate last year -- a battle between facts and politics with people's lives at stake. Last week, the administration announced it was continuing a nine-year ban on federal funding for the needle exchange programs that are designed to reduce the spread of AIDS among intravenous drug users. This decision came despite evidence from scientific studies that such programs reduce the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS. Last year in the North Carolina General Assembly, a bill to allow pilot needle exchange programs in a handful of North Carolina counties passed a Senate committee, with nearly unanimous support. The committee heard testimony from the state health director about how needle exchange programs have three important positive effects. They reduce the number of people infected with HIV, increase the number of addicts who seek treatment for their addiction, and take infected needles off the street, protecting law enforcement officers who often are forced to search drug users during arrests. The bill was then set to go to the Senate floor for a vote but never made it. Reportedly, the needle exchange was proposal was pulled from the calendar after a Senate leadership meeting in which key senators agreed the plan could save lives but would make senators who supported it vulnerable to political attacks for supporting drug use. Political considerations won and the bill was never voted on. Last week in Washington, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said extensive studies show that needle exchange programs do not encourage the use of illegal drugs and do reduce the incidence of HIV transmission. Dr. Harold Varmus, Director of the National Institutes of Health cited two recent studies that show needle exchange programs reduce the sharing of dirty needles by as much at 80 percent, with estimates of a 30 percent reduction of HIV infection. Forty percent of the total number of AIDS cases reported in the U.S. have been linked to IV drug use. More than 70 percent of the HIV cases among women of childbearing age are related to drug use. Clinton's drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, opposes the programs because he says it sends the wrong message to children. Other conservatives groups like the Christian Coalition oppose it on moral grounds or say they believe it will increase and encourage drug use. Local talk shows have been filled with conservative hosts blasting the Clinton Administration for even discussing the issue. The facts, science and people's lives apparently do not matter. There are no lobbyists for people strung out on drugs. There are no interest groups or generals or talk show hosts advocating for pregnant woman who are married to a IV drug user who could infect his wife and unborn child. The only chance they have is that the people in positions of power will look at the facts and try to save lives, not their political careers. Despite the cowardice of the Clinton Administration, 28 communities have needle exchange programs in place. It is not too late for our state. The General Assembly could revive the needle exchange bill in this summer's short session. It is hard to be optimistic about that happening. It is hard not to think people in North Carolina will die because our political leaders don't have the political courage to stop it.