Source: The Blade,, Toledo, OH
Editorial, Pages of Opinion, Section B, Page 4

Contact: email: letters@theblade.com FAX: (419) 2456191
Mail: 541 N.Superior Street, Toledo, OH 43660

Needle program is misguided

Drug enforcement czar Barry McCaffrey is taking some heat because of his
statement that needle exchange programs send the wrong message about drug
use. It's a mystery why this should be so. What he says is selfevidently
true.

Needle exchange programs provide drug addicts with sterile syringes to
replace dirty ones, to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. Injected drug
use is the second leading cause of AIDS in Ohio after homosexual activity.

Providing needles to addicts, even if with good motives, tells the addict
and society at large that we'll not only tolerate your drug use, we'll
facilitate it through the provision of new syringes in order to keep you
from contracting a disease that you might not contract if you didn't use
illegal drugs.

While drug addicts are by definition addicted, they chose to begin their
drug use in the first place. They also can, with help, be weaned from their
addiction. Does not a needle exchange program turn the exchanging
organizations into "enablers," facilitating the continuance of a drug
habit? It's rather like a federal agency offering armed robbers a handgun
exchange program if a potentially lethal flaw if found in the weapon.

Two needle exchange programs operate in Cleveland; more than 100 other
programs exist in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Many are legal;
others are not.

There is considerable support for an end to the ban on federal funding for
such programs that has existed since 1988. Such prestigious organizations
as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention say the programs are effective tools in preventing the
spread of HIV.

A bill has been introduced in Congress to lift the ban, but lawmakers
should carefully evaluate the impact this would have. While polls are
contradictory on whether Americans support needle exchange programs, the
fact is such programs make a value judgment, placing disease prevention
over the imperative not to facilitate drug use.

The nation isn't ready to embrace the medical use of marijuana arguably
of fare greater and more direct benefit to men and women suffering grievous
ailments. Why should it accept needle exchanges?