US ban on needle exchange funding

[sgxnk]

imo, AIDS etc. is clearly a NATIONAL issue and thus it is entirely appropriate for the fed govt. to fund needle exchange programs, since it is also good policy. it saves lives and contrary to some's claims, it does not promote illegal drug use


http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/index.html#1906
Give Them Dirty Needles and Let Them Die" is the title of a new piece in AlterNet, inspired by a remark once made by Judge Judy when she went to Australia and was asked her opinion about the distribution of sterile needles to drug injectors to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.

In her report, author Roseanne Scotti maintains that the judge's remark is actually a reflection of the federal government's attitude toward the clean needle program. Opponents of syringe access programs, Scotti points out, say that providing such programs "condones" drug use. The fact that several studies have shown that needle programs do not actually encourage drug use are probably irrelevant to the opposition, who not only turn their noses up at scientific research, but who also oppose anything that they can claim condones a behavior they do not like.

This is not to argue that anyone likes the idea of drug addiction, but drug addiction is a reality. One cannot help but wonder whether Judge Judy and her followers likewise condemn Rush Limbaugh to a painful death, or whether they wish former Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist had died of AIDS.

According to the AlterNet piece, the rate of HIV related to shared syringes is 4% in Australia, 6% in the UK, 17% in Canada, and 22% in the U.S. Even Iran has started a syringe exchange program. In 2002, U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher concluded in his report to Congress:

[Warpy]

1. Yep, they want to kill us all

except for a small servant class.

Nothing else makes sense about the policies of the far right.

[sgxnk]

5. that, i think is absurd

i just think that in this instance they are myopic

i think your analysis is over the top conspiracy minded rhetoric, but to each his own

[ananda]

2. Just more proof..

.. of the insanity that the USA is.

[bullimiami]

3. they would rather kill these people off than care for them.

one small way is by making it a little more likely for them to catch aids.

[spanone]

4. The compassionate side of consevativism is truly a myth.