Pubdate: Sat, 16 Feb 2008
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Edition: New Jersey
Copyright: 2008 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE

A Weapon Against HIV

New Jersey finally has needle-exchange programs in Camden, Paterson 
and Atlantic City. That's good news in the fight to stem the spread 
of HIV/AIDS by drug addicts.

The move was long overdue in New Jersey, which was the last state to 
accept such programs. Gov. Corzine signed legislation in 2006 
allowing needle exchange in at least six cities.

Now, the state needs to provide some funding to keep the fledging 
effort afloat long-term and proceed quickly with plans to start 
programs in other key cities.

There's work for the federal government, too, which should heed the 
call by a coalition of African American groups to repeal a 
20-year-old ban on federal funding for needle exchange.

African Americans accounted for roughly half of new HIV cases in 
2005, according to federal figures. Yet, they are only 13 percent of 
the U.S. population.

Lifting the funding ban would help shore up programs nationwide that 
struggle to raise money. Federal money would boost efforts to stop 
the transmission of disease and offer intervention for intravenous 
drug abusers.

Experts estimate the injection of illegal drugs is responsible for a 
third of new HIV cases nationally. An estimated one million people in 
the United States inject drugs, and fewer than 20 percent use needle 
exchange, according to the Harm Reduction Coaliton, which wants to 
repeal the federal funding ban. Many among the remaining 80 percent 
are sharing needles.

New Jersey ranks fifth nationally in AIDS cases, with 48,431 
cumulative cases reported in 2005 and injection drug users accounting 
for half of the cases.

The Camden Area Health Education Center began distributing free, 
clean needles last month at Broadway and Fairview Street in Camden's 
waterfront South neighborhood. But it could run out of money.

The group raised about $82,000 in private donations to launch the 
pilot program, said spokeswoman Lois Teer. That's enough to 
distribute needles for only three hours once a week from an outreach van.

That's inadequate for an impoverished city where one in every 100 
residents is infected with HIV/AIDS.

A needle-exchange program that operates twice a week in Atlantic City 
has yielded good results since it began in November. More than 170 
people have come in for clean needles and several have agreed to seek 
drug treatment.

Paterson recently started a program, and Newark is scheduled to begin soon.

Critics say needle exchange sends the wrong message to addicts and 
promotes illegal drug use. They believe any additional funding should 
be used for treatment programs to help them kick the habit.

But needle exchange has merit, too, and should be given a chance. The 
programs have tremendous health benefits for those who would 
otherwise use contaminated syringes. Needle exchange could save 
millions in medical costs and save lives.

For every dirty needle, addicts in the Camden program can get 11 
clean needles, sterile cotton swabs and containers for disposing of 
the used needles, which helps cut the number of dirty needles often 
found strewn in drug areas.

Addicts also are offered medical checkups, HIV testing and 
counseling, and drug-treatment referrals.

While New Jersey was last in legalizing needle-exchange programs, it 
has finally done the right thing by starting three in a short time. 
Now the state needs to make sure the programs get the financial 
support they need to make a difference. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake