Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX) Copyright: 2002 Austin American-Statesman Contact: http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32 Author: Karen Heikkala Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) CLEAN NEEDLES I'm glad Bill Clinton finally recognizes needle exchange programs prevent the spread of HIV ("Clinton voices AIDS regrets," July 12). I wish he would have listened to his secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, in 1998 when she said, "A meticulous scientific review has now proven that needle exchange programs can reduce the transmission of HIV and save lives without losing ground in the battle against illegal drugs." As 16,000 new HIV infections each year are said to be among people who inject drugs, that means 64,000 cases of HIV could have been prevented. It's time to take an aggressive approach and use tools that work. A worldwide survey in 1997 found that HIV among injection drug users decreased 5.8 percent per year in cities with exchange programs and increased 5.9 percent in cities without such programs. Instead of banning federal funding for programs that distribute clean needles, HIV prevention dollars should be made available for needle exchange programs. KAREN HEIKKALA Regional Director Drug Policy Forum of Texas Austin - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom