Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Pubdate: 5 Jan 1998 Page: 18 Author: Henry Collier NEEDLE SUPPLY CHANGES COSTLY The Sydney Morning Herald (December 27) opinion by Peter Baume "Needle ban poses threat" reports the Government intends to withdraw some of the "free needles" supply. Given how these needles (large capacity) are used by the intravenous drug using communities, it is virtually certain that needle sharing and resulting HIV infection rates will rise. Nothing will be accomplished in reducing the use of "illegal" drugs. Even from an economic perspective this policy change is incredibly ignorant. How much do the needles cost? How much does one additional HIV transmission cost? In terms of dollars the results are fairly obvious. The cost of treating one HIV infection is far greater than the total cost of supplying these syringes and needles to the intravenous drug using community. What we have done in terms of HIV education and prevention in NSW is remarkable. If we uncork the bottle and let the virus escape, we are incredibly stupid. In terms of human costs it is obvious. We CAN prevent HIV infections with a sane and sound clean-needle policy. We cannot allow the radical right to stop what is perhaps the only rational preventative strategy against HIV transmission in the intravenous drug using population. Does the Government hate everyone so much that they would even think about doing this? There is not one chance that the current policy can succeed. The latest crisis in confidence in our elected Government indicates that we have to push harder to tell the electorate what is really going on. There is no turning back to the '50s. Everything we've worked for will be destroyed. HENRY COLLIER, Kiama. - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski