The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors has voted to spend $500,000 on a new needle-exchange program intended to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, the Los Angeles Times reported March 14.

The project will be funded with money from the city's share of the nationwide tobacco settlement. The board voted 3-2 to approve the funding.

The dissenting board members said that the money should instead be used for drug education and rehab.

The new programs will be established at five sites in the city.