Soros offers $1 million for needle exchange programs

April 23, 1998
Web posted at: 11:35 p.m. EDT (0335 GMT)

(CNN) -- Four days after the Clinton administration's decision not to fund needle exchange programs with federal money, philanthropist George Soros has offered $1 million in matching funds to support the programs.

"Over half of all AIDS cases involving children are directly related to unclean syringes," said Soros, who funds the Lindesmith Center, a drug policy research organization that is part of the Soros-sponsored Open Society Institute.

"It has been scientifically proven, and the federal government agrees, that making sterile syringes readily available to addicts reduces the spread of HIV and does not encourage drug use," he said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said Monday that science clearly showed that needle exchange programs reduce HIV infections and do not encourage drug use, the two requirements necessary to release federal funds.

However, President Clinton decided against using federal money, and Shalala urged local governments to use their own funds to implement such programs.

Last year, Soros donated $1 million to various needle exchange programs. This year's repeat donation will be used to match the amount by which donors increase their donations over last year. For example, if a foundation donated $50,000 to a needle exchange program last year and is donating $75,000 this year -- then Soros will donate $25,000.

Needle exchange programs are supported by the American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United States is virtually alone among advanced industrialized nations in prohibiting federal funds for needle exchange programs.

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