Washington, D.C. To Invest $650,000 in Needle-Exchange Programs

From Kaiser Daily: Washington, D.C. plans to invest $650,000 in needle-exchange programs to help prevent the spread of HIV among injection drug users in the city, officials announced Wednesday, the Washington Post reports (Nakamura, Washington Post, 1/3). The announcement comes after President Bush last week signed a $555 billion fiscal year 2008 omnibus spending bill (HR 2764) that effectively lifts a ban on city funding for needle-exchange programs in the district. Since 1999, the district has been the only U.S. city barred by federal law from using local funds for needle-exchange programs. A report released in November by district health officials found that injection drug use was the second most common cause of HIV transmission in the city (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/2). "This program goes to best practices to combat one of our greatest health problems," district Mayor Adrian Fenty said at a news conference at the headquarters of PreventionWorks!, which operates the district's only needle-exchange program. PreventionWorks! will receive a $300,000 city grant, and the remaining $350,000 will go toward creating new needle-exchange programs, Fenty said. Ken Vail of PreventionWorks! said that the organization serves about 2,000 people at 12 locations in the city and that it exchanged 200,000 needles last year. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) in a statement said, "The district's AIDS rate is artificially elevated" because of the former funding ban, adding, "Now we have a lot of catching up to do." Council member David Catania, chair of the Committee on Health, said the public investment will be cost-effective in the long term if the exchange programs are successful. "The cost of infection is immeasurably higher [then needle-exchange programs] in terms of dollars and lives," he added. Shannon Hader, head of the district's HIV/AIDS Administration, said she expects the city to establish a variety of new needle-exchange programs, such as mobile clinics, outreach initiatives and fixed-site programs. Fenty said everyone should "be concerned" about HIV/AIDS when asked how he would respond to residents who might object to having needle-exchange programs in their neighborhoods (Washington Post, 1/3). "HIV and AIDS are such well-known public health problems in the District of Columbia that people understand we have to have programs and services in the neighborhoods," he added (AP/International Herald Tribune, 1/3).

Bush Signs Spending Bill: Lifts DC Needle Exchange Ban

From Kaiser Daily: President Bush last week signed a $555 billion fiscal year 2008 omnibus spending bill (HR 2764) that effectively lifts a ban on city funding for needle-exchange programs in Washington, D.C., the New York Times reports. Since 1999, the district has been the only U.S. city barred by federal law from using local funds for needle-exchange programs. A report released last month by district health officials found that injection drug use was the second most common cause of HIV transmission in the city (Urbina, New York Times, 12/27/07). Mayor Adrian Fenty in a recent statement said the city plans to include needle exchanges in a larger program to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. About $1 million in city funds will be allocated for needle-exchange programs in 2008. District City Council member Jim Graham said a city-funded needle-exchange program will have a significant impact on the city's high rate of HIV/AIDS. He added, "This program will save lives" (Manning, AP/Google.com, 12/27/07). Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, said, "For too long, Congress has unfairly imposed on the citizens of D.C. by trying out their social experiments there." He added, "The ban on needle exchanges was one of the most egregious of these impositions, especially because the consensus is clear that these programs save lives" (New York Times, 12/27/07).

Prevention Justice Mobilization: Stopping AIDS Through Unity and Action

“What do we want? EFFECTIVE PREVENTION! When do we want it? NOW!” shouted HIV/AIDS, women rights, and faith-based advocates as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to join a World AIDS Day rally at the White House. as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to join a World AIDS Day rally at the White House. On Friday, November 30, nearly 200 activists—including community members, students, and people living with HIV and AIDS—brought together local, domestic, and global demands for critical changes to U.S. HIV and AIDS policies. Those rallying called upon the government to cut the red tape on HIV and AIDS programs, with particular emphasis afforded to prevention programs at home and abroad. The rally-goers, armed with posters and giant scissors with messages like “Sex Education Saves” and “Cut the Red Tape on U.S. Global HIV Prevention,” weren’t the only people making demands of the Administration. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington D.C.’s non-voting delegate in Congress, issued powerful words to President Bush as part of her address to the crowd. Read the rest of Kimberly Whipkey's post on the Prevention Justice Mobilaztion's website

DC Must Watch Needle-Exchange Closely

From Kaiser Daily: Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty and other district leaders should "remain vigilant" as the Senate this month likely will vote on a $21 billion appropriations bill that would lift a ban on city funding for needle-exchange programs, Grant Smith -- legislative assistant for the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance -- writes in a Washington Post letter to the editor in response to a Nov. 30 Post editorial (Smith, Washington Post, 12/4). The House in June passed the appropriations bill after lawmakers voted to remove language that prevents the district from financing the programs. The ban was first imposed under a federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 that prohibits the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program. The House has added the ban each year to the district's appropriations bill (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/2). According to Smith, the bill has "languished in the Senate since July." District leaders should be aware this month, "when the Senate will be in a rush" to pass the bill, Smith writes, adding that the Senate "should reject any last-minute attempts to restore the ban." Only after President Bush "signs the bill can the district focus on delivering on its promise to infuse critically needed money" into needle-exchange programs, Smith writes, concluding, "We cannot afford to assume Congress and the president will do the right thing" (Washington Post, 12/4).

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Here is a great Al Jazeera English piece on the World AIDS Day protest at the White House. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton tells the President to "get serious." She goes on to say that the Republican led Congress had "knowingly killed men, women, and children," by denying the District the ability to fund syringe exchange. DC Fights Back Co-chair George Kerr tells the President to "look in his own backyard."

Eleanor Holmes Norton Reaffirms Commitment to Needle Exchange

From Kaiser DailyDel. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) recently said that needle-exchange programs in Washington, D.C., should receive public funding in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV, the AP/NBC4.com reports (AP/NBC4.com, 11/28). Norton's comments follow the release of a report earlier in the week that called HIV/AIDS a "modern epidemic" in the district with "complexities and challenges that continue to threaten the lives and well-being of far too many residents." According to the report, almost 12,500 district residents were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in 2006. Thirty-seven percent of HIV cases were transmitted through heterosexual contact, compared with 25% that were transmitted among men who have sex with men (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 11/27). According to Norton, the report did not mention a congressional ban that prohibits the city from allocating public funds for needle-exchange programs. The ban likely will be overturned soon, the AP/NBC4.com reports. Although the report did say that injection drug use was the second-most common mode of HIV transmission in the city, it was "misleading" by focusing too much on sexual transmission of the virus, according to Norton (AP/NBC4.com, 11/28). Related Editorial "Among the tragic data" in the report, the "statistic on" injection drug use is the "most infuriating" because needle-exchange programs -- the "tool needed to slow transmission of HIV by this route" -- are banned from receiving public funding, a Washington Post editorial says. Norton and Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) "succeeded in getting the ban eliminated" in a House appropriations bill earlier this year, the editorial says, adding that the district is "waiting for the Senate to approve on an omnibus spending bill, which could happen next month." The "longer the district is denied the freedom to use its own money to help its own residents, the more lives will be needlessly put at risk," the editorial concludes (Washington Post, 11/30).

Thank Congress for Supporting DC Needle Exchange

A number of organizations in DC are signing on to two letters to congress in support of needle exchange to fight HIV in DC. The letters thank those elected officials who came through for us on this issue. DC Fights Back, as has the Washington AIDS Partnership. But it's not just HIV/AIDS organizations that are getting involved. Any civil rights, religious, health, social justice, criminal justice organizations should also consider signing on. That is, as long as you make the deadline, which is 3:00 PM, Tuesday August 7th. Click here to find out more at the Washington Grantmakers Daily Blog. And if you haven't checked out this blog yet, you really should. It's updated daily, and full of information about the DC non-profit world.

Another Op-Ed Supports Needle Exchange in DC

From Kaiser Daily Reports: Washington, D.C., should be allowed to fund needle-exchange programs to prevent the spread of HIV among injection drug users in the city, Steve Chapman, a member of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board, writes in a Tribune perspective piece. The House this week is expected to vote on a bill that would allow the district to "decide for itself whether to spend its own dollars to hand out" clean needles and syringes, according to Chapman (Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 6/17). The House Appropriations Committee recently approved a $21.4 billion appropriations bill that would lift a ban on city funding for needle-exchange programs in the district. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government earlier this month voted to remove language from the bill that prevents the district from financing the programs. The ban was first imposed under a federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 that prohibits the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program. The House has added the ban each year to the district's appropriations bill. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), chair of the subcommittee, recently said he would make it a priority to push for removal of the language. District Mayor Adrian Fenty has said that he will provide funds for needle-exchange programs as soon as Congress removes the language. Injection drug use is the second most common mode of HIV transmission among men in the district and the most common mode among women in the city. Prevention Works!, the district's only needle-exchange program, is financed through private donations and reaches about one-third of the estimated 9,700 injection drug users in the city (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/13). Although the federal government "spends some $15 billion a year on health care and financial assistance for AIDS patients," it "refuses to lay out one thin dime for" needle-exchange programs, Chapman writes. He adds that although there are studies that "fail to vindicate" the programs, they are "rare and unrepresentative." In addition, the "strong consensus" among experts is that exchange programs have "proven their value beyond dispute." Funding bans on needle-exchange programs are "not the only impediment," according to Chapman. Scott Burris, a law professor at Temple University, says that 23 states have laws that deter or prohibit pharmacies from selling syringes without a prescription, Chapman writes. Some district HIV/AIDS advocates say the city is "guilty of the same mistake," Chapman adds. While the district is "asking for help from Congress on needle exchange, it could help itself by deregulating" over-the-counter sales of clean needles, according to Chapman. "Restrictions on the sale and possession of injecting equipment, like the funding bans, make it harder for drug users to take basic self-preservation measures," Chapman writes, concluding, "If you like throwing away money, preventing addicts from getting access to sterile syringes is an excellent strategy. If you like squandering lives, it's even better" (Chicago Tribune, 6/17).

Speakout Reports: Substance Use Breakout Group

Several organizations co-sponsored a DC HIV/AIDS Speakout on May 17th, 2007. I will be posting the reports from each of the breakout groups throughout the next week. The final outcome document from the Speakout will be published on the DC Fights Back Website. If you'd like to get involved, please be sure to join this yahoo group. The Substance Use Breakout group covered a lot of territory during their discussion. At the top of the list of their priorities, of course, is a city funded needle exchange program. Progress is being made on the hill that may in fact make this possible. Other recommendations included providing substance use training to HIV providers, creating a 12-step support group specifically for HIV positive individuals, and creating a mentor program or peer hotline. click here to see the flip-chart notes from the substance use breakout group.

House Subcommittee To Hear Washington, D.C., Appropriations Bill That Restricts City Funding for Needle-Exchange Programs

From Kaiser Daily: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on Tuesday will consider a Washington, D.C., appropriations bill that includes language preventing the city from financing needle-exchange programs, the Washington Post reports. According to the Post, some health advocates are hopeful that the language will be removed from the bill because of the "changed balance of power on Capitol Hill" (Levine, Washington Post, 6/5). The ban was first imposed under a federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 that prohibits the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29). According to the Post, the House has added the ban each year to the district's appropriations bill (Washington Post, 6/5). Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), chair of the subcommittee, recently said he will make it a priority to push for the removal of the language. District Mayor Adrian Fenty has said that he will provide funds for needle-exchange programs as soon as Congress removes the language. Injection drug use is the second most common mode of HIV transmission among men in the district and the most common mode among women in the city. Prevention Works!, the district's only needle-exchange program, is financed through private donations and reaches about one-third of the estimated 9,700 injection drug users in the city (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29). Walter Smith, executive director of the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, said that there is a connection between the high number of HIV/AIDS cases in the district and lack of a city-funded needle-exchange program, adding that it's "time to uncouple" the connection. Serrano said that although it is unclear whether the ban will be lifted, he is ready to push the issue. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) called the ban "abuse of the city," adding that "countless deaths have occurred" because the city lacks a government-funded needle-exchange program. More than two dozen medical, public health, social service and philanthropic organizations last month sent a letter to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the subcommittee that initially handles the district's budget, urging that the restriction be lifted, the Post reports. Chuck Knapp -- a spokesperson for Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), the original author of the ban -- said that Tiahrt likely will try to continue the ban but added that "it's a different political environment" than when it originally passed (Washington Post, 6/5).

New York Times Editorial on DC Needle Exchange

From Kaiser Daily: Congress' ban on locally financed needle-exchange programs in Washington, D.C., is an "insult to the city's voters and a clear hazard to public health," a New York Times editorial says (New York Times, 6/4). A federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 bans the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) recently said he will make it a priority to push for the removal of language from a district appropriations bill that prevents the city from financing needle-exchange programs. District Mayor Adrian Fenty has said that he will provide funds for needle-exchange programs as soon as Congress removes the language (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29). According to the Times, the large number of HIV cases in the district that can be traced to injection drug use is "partly the fault of Congress," which has "wrongly and disastrously used its power" over the district's budget to ban the city from funding needle-exchange programs to curb the spread of the virus. "Ideologues" in Congress "need to get out of the way and let public health officials save lives" by implementing a needle-exchange program in the district, the editorial concludes (New York Times, 6/4).

Thinking about Needle Exchange in DC

A recent article in the New York Times profiling DC's lone needle-exchange program has once again got the city talking about needle exchange. The article clearly states the problem in the first paragraph: "The nation’s capital is the only city in the country barred by federal law from using local tax money to finance needle exchange programs. It is also the city with the fastest-growing number of new AIDS cases." This article was picked up by DCist.com. They write: "Daniels relies on $385,000 in private donations to deal with a huge and pressing health problem, reaching only one-third of the District's estimated 9,700 intravenous drug users." A number of local organizations signed on to a letter on needle exchange that was sent to Congress last month. There efforts may be paying off. POZ Magazine reports "Representative Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) plans to push for the removal of legislation that prevents Washington D.C. from using local tax money to fund needle exchange programs." The image used in this post is from a fashion show created by Oleksiy Zalevskiy to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Ukraine. To find out more click here

Not while the Republicans are in Control

It's no secret that many of the things DC residents want to do to improve our lives and our city end up getting messed up, delayed, or just plain blocked by Congress. DC is not like any other city in the United States. Congress controls our money and exerts extraordinary control over how we spend it. When it comes to HIV/AIDS in the District, Congressional interference has had dire consequences. First, despite overwhelming evidence that needle-exchange programs are an effective HIV prevention strategy, Congress prevents DC from spending any money for needle exchange. This means that unlike any other city in the country hit by the epidemic, we can't even spend our own city funds to support needle-exchange programs. Our only needle exchange program operates without any government money. Second, Congress has prevented DC residents from deciding for themselves whether or not they support Medical Marijuana for HIV patients who would benefit from that treatment. Yet another study released today shows Medical Marijuana can benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. A few years ago we had a ballot initiative on this issue, and DC Voters supported the use of Medical Marijuana, yet we have been unable to move forward on this issue because of Congress. For several years now, when you brought up either of these topics, way too many folks would politely nod and inevitably reply "If only the Republicans weren't in control of Congress". At times it felt like too easy of an excuse for not continuing to stand up and speak out about these two issues. So I would like to point out to everyone in the District who has ever utterred those words: The Republicans aren't in control of Congress anymore. What are we going to do about it now? I'm glad to see that the Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance continues to include both of these issues in their Legislative Agenda. We need more organizations in DC taking action on needle exchange and medical marijuana. Now is the time.

PreventionWorks DC

Since 1998 PreventionWorks has provided needle exchange and other harm reduction services in the District of Columbia. The mission of PreventionWorks is to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among injecting and other drug users, their sexual partners, and newborn children. PreventionWorks' needle exchange service operates on private donations. The District is the only city in the nation barred by federal law from investing its own locally raised dollars to provide needle exchange. This is despite scientific research proving needle exchange reduces the transmission of blood-borne viruses. in fact, needle exchange programs in other major cities, like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all supported by state and/or local government dollars. Effectiveness of Needle Exchange Scientific research on needle exchange shows: Needle exchange programs reduce HIV and Hepatitis transmission; Needle exchange programs do not encourage the use of illegal drugs; and Needle exchange programs provide an effective means of getting drug users into drug treatment. Since December 1998 PreventionWorks has properly disposed of over 2 million contaminated needles and syringes. Services PreventionWorks believes everyone deserves the right to be treated with respect and dignity. When provided with compassionate support and adequate resources, individuals are then empowered to make healthy decisions. PreventionWorks offer the following free harm reduction services. HIV Counseling and Testing Drug Treatment and Referrals HIV and STI Prevention Education Safer Sex Material Distribution Needle Exchange Viral Hepatitis Education Food and Clothing Distribution Overdose Prevention Support Groups PreventionWorks' services are based on a harm reduction model. Harm reduction is a way to improve and save lives by providing support for positive change in a respectful and nonjudgemental environment. For more information visit www.preventionworksdc.org.