| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
July 10, 2009
|
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone, GMHC, 212-367-1016
Science and Common Sense Prevail in House Budget;
GMHC Commends House Appropriators for Proposing an End to Federal Ban on Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs
New York, NY — Today, the U.S. House Appropriations Labor Health and Human Services Subcommittee passed a fiscal year 2010 budget that proposes an end to the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange programs (SEPs). The ban has prevented federal resources from supporting this consistently effective HIV prevention tool since 1988.
"We applaud Members of Congress for prioritizing science and public health over ideology," said Marjorie Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at GMHC. "Should the Senate follow the wise lead of this House Subcommittee, we will soon experience further drops of HIV transmission rates among intravenous drug users. In New York City, the expansion of syringe exchange programs led to a 78% reduction of HIV among intravenous drugs users from 1990 to 2002," added Hill.
Syringe exchange programs (SEPs), in addition to reducing the spread of HIV, connect individuals to services that further protect and educate intravenous drug users. Nearly all SEPs provide alcohol pads, male condoms, and referrals to substance abuse treatment. Some SEPs also offer onsite medical care, counseling and testing for HIV and Hepatitis C, and certain vaccinations. Intravenous drug users using SEPs have been shown in studies to be less likely to utilize local emergency rooms. They are more likely to enter into detoxification programs and cease the dangerous practice of syringe-sharing.
"We urge the full House and the Senate, and President Obama, to continue on this path to expeditiously remove the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange programs," concluded Dr. Hill.
When President Obama was a candidate, he pledged to repeal the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange programs in his response to a 2007 survey from AIDSvote.org and GMHC.
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
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