Pubdate: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 Source: New York Times (NY) Page: A18 Copyright: 2010 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Cited: Department of Health and Human Services http://www.aids.gov/about-us/?showTab=contact-us SENSIBLE RULES, SOON President Obama did the right thing in December when he repealed the 21-year-old ban on federal financing for programs that give drug users access to clean needles. Almost nothing has happened since because the Department of Health and Human Services still has not issued the new rules that states and localities need before they can use any federal money to expand existing exchange programs or start new ones. Administration officials say the rules will be issued soon. They must be written in a way that broadens access to needle exchanges, rather than restricts it. Congress voted to withhold federal money from these life-saving programs in 1988 when it was already clear that clean needles slowed the spread of H.I.V. and other blood-borne diseases without contributing to addiction. Fortunately, not all states and localities followed that destructive approach. Researchers found that state-financed needle-exchange programs in New York City cut the infection rate of H.I.V. among addicts by about 80 percent by giving them clean syringes and enrolling them in drug treatment programs. By keeping addicts free of infection, the program also has saved the lives of spouses, lovers and unborn children. State and local health officials are eager for the new rules so they can move forward and are pressing the Obama administration to avoid placing unnecessary restrictions on already proven programs. They are especially worried about how the new rules will interpret a provision of the statute that gives local police departments some say in where needle-exchange programs can be located. It is important to protect the interests of local residents and businesses, but forcing exchange sites to the far edges of a city or town would utterly defeat their purpose. Managers of these programs often reach agreements with police departments so that people coming in are not arrested for having drug paraphernalia. Federal health officials should require local clinics that get federal aid to confer with local law enforcement. Good will, good sense and a readiness to cooperate is essential on all sides. Successful, well-financed needle-exchange programs will improve public health and public safety. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake