Date: Tue, 18 Feb 97 18:07:18 EST From: "communications" Subject: HRC News Release 2/18/97: Federal Report on Needle Exchange ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 FEDERAL REPORT ON NEEDLE EXCHANGE A STEP TOWARD DEPOLITICIZING PUBLIC HEALTH, HRC SAYS HHS Agrees That Programs Help Slow Spread of HIV WASHINGTON -- A federal report concluding that needle exchange programs are effective in slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS represents a critical step toward taking the politics out of public health, the Human Rights Campaign said today. "The Department of Health and Human Services reached the only scientifically honest conclusion possible," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's legislative director. "All the evidence to date shows that access to clean needles decreases the spread of HIV and AIDS. "In light of this report, we call on the administration, the public health community and Congress to work together to lift the ban on spending federal money on needle exchange programs.' The report found that the scientific evidence is not strong enough to indicate that such programs do not promote intravenous drug use. For that reason, it stopped short of recommending an end to the prohibition on spending federal money on needle exchange programs. HHS issued the report today in response to a request from the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for the Departments of Labor, HHS, Education and related agencies. The report's principal conclusion is that "needle exchange programs can be an effective component of a comprehensive strategy to prevent HIV and other blood-borne infectious diseases in communities that choose to include them." "This is the first time in the history of the AIDS epidemic that the federal government has publicly stated this conclusion," Stachelberg added. "We believe that this will have a positive impact in those communities that are considering but have yet to institute needle exchange programs." Approximately one-third of reported AIDS cases are related to intravenous drug use. Last week, a panel of public health experts at the National Institutes of Health concluded that needle exchange programs are a powerful and proven weapon in the war against AIDS. They also charged that misguided politics continue to block institution of such programs. And many respected public health organizations have reviewed the research on needle exchange programs and agree that they work. These organizations include the National Academy of Sciences, the National Commission on AIDS, the American Medical Association, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the American Public Health Association. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -