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Debate rages over buying needles for addicts
Congresswoman urges end to federal funding ban
August 20, 1997
Web posted at: 11:09 p.m. EDT (0309 GMT)SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Supporters and opponents of the strategy of providing clean IV needles to drug addicts to stop the spread of AIDS are squaring off over a proposal to lift an existing ban on using federal money to fund needle exchange programs.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, plans to co-sponsor a measure that would free up federal money for needle exchange programs, which many experts say reduce the spread of HIV.
"The data is in and the experts agree. It's time to lift the ban," she said.
But conservative critics strongly oppose any change in the current policy.
"The federal government might be on the verge of funding needle giveaways for drug addicts. This would be a tragic mistake because it would fuel drug use and lead to more AIDS deaths," said Robert Maginnis of the Family Research Council, a conservative public interest group.
After both sides of the debate held dueling news conferences in Washington Wednesday, the Clinton administration weighed in on the side of the conservative critics.
"Federal treatment funds should not be diverted to short-term 'harm reduction' efforts like needle exchange programs."
— Gen. Barry McCaffrey
"Federal treatment funds should not be diverted to short-term 'harm reduction' efforts like needle exchange programs," according to a statement from the president's drug control czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey.
The statement said it was more important to get addicts into treatment.
Studies by the Beth Israel Chemical Dependency Institute and other groups have shown that the rate of HIV infections fell by two-thirds in areas where needle exchange programs were active.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation last year gave away more than two million free needles.
"We had no reported cases of pediatric AIDS in 1995 and 1996, and that's directly correlated back to our early and consistent support of needle exchange programs," said Gordon Derek of the foundation.
But Shepherd Smith of Americans for a Sound AIDS-HIV Policy, which opposes needle exchanges, says there are "troubling aspects" to studies that show needle exchange programs work.
So while needle exchange advocates say fighting AIDS can be as cheap as 10 cents a needle, opponents charge that when the federal government buys the needles, it is endorsing drug use.
Correspondent Don Knapp and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Financier offers $1 million on needles for addicts - August 17, 1997
- Needle exchange debated as AIDS prevention measure - December 6, 1995
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