Good News for Drug Addicts With Needles

There are 1.1 million HIV cases in America. The number will grow if drug addicts continue to share needles because buying new ones is very expensive. There are many needle-exchange centers where addicts can turn in their used needles and get free ones in return. Although this endorses injecting drugs into you, it also greatly reduces the spreading of HIV, AIDS and other diseases.

A bill is now in Congress that would lift a ban of over 20 years on using federal money for needle-exchange programs. However, this bill would also ban federally financed exchanges from being within 1,000 feet of a school, park, library, college, video arcade, or any other place where children could be. This causes a problem because officials at exchanges around the country said there are very few, if any, places that could house a needle exchange under this rule. Raquel Algarin, executive director of the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center in New York said, "'We'd probably be doing syringe exchange in the middle of the East River, and any exchange on the West Side would be in the Hudson river'". In addition, Rebecca Haag, executive director of the AIDS Action Council, said, "'This 1,000 foot rule is simply instituting the ban in a different form'".

On the other side, Rep. Jack Kingston from Georgia said, "'Let's protect these kids. They don't need to be playing kickball in the playground and seeing people lined up for needle exchange'".

While I understand what Kingston is saying, I think this 1,000 foot rule is unfair and that it's great the federal government is finally going to fund the needle exchange program. This program greatly reduces the spreading of diseases and it's ridiculous to make these rules about the location of them. Drug addicts are part of our society and always will be, so we might as well control it and make it as safe as possible for others.