U.S., Britain Spar Over Needle Exchanges June 28, 2005
News Summary
The Bush administration is trying to prevent other countries from using needle-exchange programs to prevent AIDS, but the British government says the programs should be part of the United Nations' global AIDS strategy.The Guardian reported June 28 that Great Britain's international development minister, Gareth Thomas, spoke out strongly against any attempt to weaken the global AIDS prevention strategy currently being developed by UNAids.
"We support effective harm-reduction programs, especially needle and syringe exchange and methadone substitution therapy, because they have been proven to reduce HIV infection among infecting drug users and their sexual partners in many countries," said Thomas.
U.S. representatives said that needle exchanges prevent addicts from kicking their addictions. In many nations, injection-drug use is the leading cause of AIDS infections.
The U.S. Agency on International Development won't fund needle-exchange programs, and U.S. officials successfully lobbied the U.N.'s office on drugs and crime to oppose needle exchanges earlier this year.
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