Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 Source: Herald News (NJ) Copyright: 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.northjersey.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2911 Author: Arthur H. Dion Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) NEEDLE-EXCHANGE BAN 'DEFIES LOGIC' On behalf of the 2,400 people living with HIV in Camden, Gloucester, Burlington and Salem counties, we'd like to thank you for your editorial on supporting the Harm Reduction and Syringe Exchange program in Camden and Atlantic cities ("N.J. needs a needle-exchange program," June 24). Your support has been validated by numerous public-health organizations, city governments and law-enforcement agencies all over the United States. All the evidence clearly points to reduced infection rates and no increase in drug abuse. In fact, this type of program has functioned as a gateway into drug treatment for those who are addicted. That an injunction was issued to prevent implementation of this program when New Jersey is one of the last two states in the country to have such a program, and at the same time ranks fifth overall and first among women with HIV, defies all logic. Such a distinction should make us all tell our legislators to support Syringe Exchange and abandon any argument that isn't supported by objective data. ARTHUR H. DION President AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey Bellmawr - --- MAP posted-by: Beth