New
Report
on
Injection-Related
AIDS
Finds
Prevention
Neglected
in
Large
States
and
Major
Cities
11/19/99
PRINCETON, NJ: Drug-injection-related AIDS continues to spread in the absence of syringe exchange programs. Many states and cities with the highest rates of injection-related AIDS do not have these programs, according to a new analysis by the Dogwood Center. "Four of the top ten states with IV-drug-use-related AIDS do not allow needle exchange programs. None of the states provide adequate needle exchange," said Dawn Day, Ph.D., Director of the Dogwood Center, the study's author. The study is based on a special analysis of the most recent data -- through 1998 -- obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Injection-related AIDS cases include persons who inject drugs and their sexual partners. According to the CDC, half of all new AIDS cases start with sharing syringes. "New York, which leads the nation, historically has had the largest concentration of heroin users. Needle exchange programs in New York City have reduced the per capita HIV rate. But the number of exchange programs is completely inadequate to stop the spread of HIV," said Day. The spread of HIV through shared syringes has increased for two reasons. First, the price of heroin has fallen and purity increased, making addiction more rapid and less expensive. Second, medical advances in AIDS treatment mean persons who inject drugs and are infected with HIV/AIDS are living longer and continuing to share needles. "For effective AIDS prevention, substantial expansion and federal funding, of needle exchange programs are urgently needed," said Day. The full report with additional key material about each state is available on the Dogwood Center web site at http://www.dogwoodcenter.org/report.html. For information on requesting Dogwood Center publications in print, call (609) 924-4797 or e-mail [email protected].
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