Clinton Regrets Not Lifting Ban on Needle-Exchange Funding July 17, 2002
News Summary
Former President Clinton said he was "wrong" not to lift a ban on federal funding of needle-exchange programs during his presidency, the Wall Street Journal reported July 12.Clinton acknowledged that a government panel told him that needle-exchange programs were effective in slowing the spread of HIV among injection-drug users, and didn't promote drug abuse.
But Clinton said he took the advice of his drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who opposed the funding because of "the message it would send on the drug front."
Clinton made his remarks at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Spain. He has made fighting AIDS one of his post-presidency priorities.
Clinton, along with former South African President Nelson Mandela, co-chair the nonprofit group International AIDS Trust.
Clinton said that the United States should commit $2.5 billion a year in foreign HIV assistance, an increase from the current $1 billion. He also plans to visit lawmakers in other countries to help them develop a national AIDS plan.
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