Finally coming to their senses (hopefully)...
After almost a decade of forced policy that dictated D.C. couldn't direct any funds to needle exchange programs, it appears Congress is finally seeing the light:
"This is the worst example of political disempowerment and abuse of the city," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). "It's a life-and-death matter and a public health matter. There is no question that countless deaths have occurred because of this attachment."
If you have representation in Congress (unlike me) and your representative is on this list, please let them know that it's time to let D.C. decide how best to fight HIV within our borders. The D.C. Appropriations Bill will be coming before the full committee soon.
For those of you not familiar with needle exchange issues in D.C. (or our disenfranchisement), our home rule is subject to congressional oversight. This means that my elected officials don't necessarily get to govern on things of the utmost importance to my city (like fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is way out of control here), but yours do (unless you're Canadian). I also pay the same federal taxes as you, in addition to the second highest state taxes in the country.
Congress has stipulated that we can't use our taxes to fund one of the most effective HIV prevention methods around, even according to their own research. For those of you wondering, needle exchange programs do not increase drug use - in fact, from a clinical perspective, it exposes users to the tools available to address their addiction. People on the client care side at my work tell me that around half of our new positive clients were exposed through sharing needles. It really is vital to my city that we have the ability to fund proven prevention programs.
The NYT did a great article on the only needle exchange program here last week. Check it out. And contact your congressman.
"This is the worst example of political disempowerment and abuse of the city," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). "It's a life-and-death matter and a public health matter. There is no question that countless deaths have occurred because of this attachment."
If you have representation in Congress (unlike me) and your representative is on this list, please let them know that it's time to let D.C. decide how best to fight HIV within our borders. The D.C. Appropriations Bill will be coming before the full committee soon.
For those of you not familiar with needle exchange issues in D.C. (or our disenfranchisement), our home rule is subject to congressional oversight. This means that my elected officials don't necessarily get to govern on things of the utmost importance to my city (like fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is way out of control here), but yours do (unless you're Canadian). I also pay the same federal taxes as you, in addition to the second highest state taxes in the country.
Congress has stipulated that we can't use our taxes to fund one of the most effective HIV prevention methods around, even according to their own research. For those of you wondering, needle exchange programs do not increase drug use - in fact, from a clinical perspective, it exposes users to the tools available to address their addiction. People on the client care side at my work tell me that around half of our new positive clients were exposed through sharing needles. It really is vital to my city that we have the ability to fund proven prevention programs.
The NYT did a great article on the only needle exchange program here last week. Check it out. And contact your congressman.