The growing number of new injection-related AIDS cases diagnosed each year is a massive indication that we are not following appropriate policies. There are alternatives to what we are doing in this country. Since 1991, the federal government of Canada has required that the provinces start needle exchanges in large cities. For those who wish to buy them, syringes can be purchased at pharmacies. The government of Australia pays pharmacists to give out sterile needles to injecting drug users.
Needle exchanges have national government support in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Given the growing number of AIDS deaths that are injection-related and the solid scientific and medical support for getting sterile needles to persons who inject drugs, change in US policy is inevitable. The US Government will eventually have to fund needle exchanges. State laws limiting access to sterile needles will have to change . We can all play a role in making that change happen as rapidly as possible. We need to educate others about the current disastrous situation.