AB 518 passed out of the California State Senate on August 24. He must sign or veto this bill within 12 days. Your calls AND faxes of support are needed now. Injection drug use is the second leading cause of HIV transmission in the state. As of December 1998, over 20,000 AIDS cases had been reported among IDUs in California.
Needle exchange is one of the most cost-effective interventions.
Needle exchange programs offer an opportunity to provide prevention counseling and referrals to medical care, drug treatment, HIV testing and other services. Please contact Herb K. Schultz, 323.993.1365, Director of Government Affairs, or Matt G.Mutchler, Senior Policy Analyst, at 323.993.1628 for more information.