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DrugScreening.org


 

D.C. Needle Exchange Program 'Saving Lives'
September 3, 2008

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News Summary

Washington, D.C., has the highest HIV infection rate in the U.S. -- one in 20 residents are HIV-positive -- but a needle-exchange program is helping to save lives by preventing drug users from spreading the disease, the Associated Press reported Aug. 24.

D.C. was slow to adopt needle exchanges in part because Congress -- which controls the city's purse strings -- for decades refused to allow money to be spent on the harm-reduction initiative. However, the funding ban was lifted earlier this year.

"If you want to reduce the spread of HIV ... you put more syringes out there," said Ken Vail, executive director of PreventionWorks!, which now received some of the $700,000 being allocated for needle exchanges in the city.

An estimated 10,000 D.C. residents have contracted HIV by sharing dirty needles, and drug use is the second-leading cause of infection in the city after unsafe sex.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Shayna Scott on 08 Sep 08 12:06 AM EDT
While needle exchange programs are very controversial, I agree that they are needed, especially in the inner-city where needle sharing is more prevalent. Although the program may not prevent IV drug use, it will decrease the spread of transmittable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. I hope that more American cities follow our nation's capital in this proactive policy.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 04 Sep 08 11:23 AM EDT
I sure hope that somewhere in this needle exchange program is a outcome to get some of the 10,000 IV drug users to treatment to stop using. I read the AP article and no where was anything mentioned about treatment. My problem with harm reduction programs is that gettig clean is the lowest priority and rarely ever encouraged.

Posted by John French on 04 Sep 08 10:15 AM EDT
The AP article is worth reading. It is one of the shames of our government that it (both State and Federal) fights harm reduction activities that save lives, because of ill-conceived notions that they encourage illegal activities.

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