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DrugSense Information on Needle Exchanges
| What Are Needle Exchange Issues?
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In addition to sexual transmission, the most important way that HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus) is transmitted is by contaminated blood. It is also
the most controllable. Since the discovery of the AIDS virus, testing at
blood banks and by pharmaceutical houses has all but eliminated
transmission by those routes. This has resulted in needle sharing by
intravenous drug users (IDUs) becoming the second most common route by
which AIDS is spread. In certain communities, it is becoming the most
important means of transmission.
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When one examines the details of transmission by contaminated "rigs"
(needle. syringe and other equipment used by IDUs), HIV is a fragile virus,
usually found in low concentration in contaminated blood. It is relatively
difficult to transmit compared to other blood-borne viruses. Transmission
of the AIDS virus should be relatively easy to check through simple
availability of sterile needles and syringes and basic education of drug
users in proper technique.In practice, this has proven true in several peer
reviewed studies in the US and abroad.
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Paraphernalia laws which make mere possession of syringes and needles
without a prescription a criminal offense, work dirctly against public
health and foster transmission of AIDS. The drug user who contracts HIV in
this way may also transmit the virus to sex partners and family members.
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"The cost of running a needle exchange program and treating one AIDS
patient are roughly equal."
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As with medical marijuana,
enforcement of paraphernalia laws has, for all
practical purposes, been left to local communities. This, in turn, has
allowed effective volunteer exchange programs to function in a haphazard
way around the nation. These programs rely on voluntary contributions and
are, in the main underfunded. They are non-existent or opposed in many
communities, so a great national need still exists. There is some recent
evidence of a doctrinal reversal of government opposition.
| | "Needle exchange reduces the spread of
HIV/AIDS by up to 50 percent and does not increase drug use.", Donna Shalala, Report to the Committee on
Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education and Related Agencies, "Needle Exchange Programs in America: A
Review of Published Studies and Ongoing Research,
February 18, 1997 |
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Many who work in the needle exchange field are concerned,
however, that federal funding, if accompanied by typical unrealistic
restrictions on how, when, and to whom rigs may be provided,coulda actually
work against effective volunteer programs.
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Government opposition to needle exchange has been typically moralistic and
blind to reality. It continues to be based on the expressed fear that
providing sterile equipmrent would signal approval of and increase drug
use. Such has been disproven in study after study. In fact, the peresence
of sympathetic, non-judgemental exchange workers has resulted in increased
general health of addicts and users and has facilitated voluntary entry of
many into treatment programs.
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Experts in drug policy agree that opposition to needle exchange is one of
the most destructive aspects of present government drug policy and one of
those most amenable to improvement by harm reduction principles.
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