Clinton Needle-Exchange Stance Criticized Aids Activists Say His Position Demonstrates Political Timidity

AIDS activists criticized the Clinton administration on Monday for political timidity for endorsing needle-exchange programs but at the same time barring federal funds for them.

In announcing the administration’s policy, Donna Shalala, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, praised needle-exchange programs for preventing the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The programs enable drug addicts to trade in old needles for new ones, thus reducing the chances that addicts would share needles.

Needle-exchange programs have been criticized for allegedly promoting drug use.

Shalala said in a statement that the programs “can reduce the transmission of HIV and save lives without losing ground in the battle against illegal drugs.”

While asserting that her department’s research showed the programs didn’t lead to increased illegal drug usage, Shalala said the administration would continue an existing ban on federal funding for such programs.

Instead, the administration will encourage local communities to continue needle exchange programs with their own financial resources, she said.

Her spokesman, Campbell Gardett, later said the funding question “is such a sensitive issue that we thought it would be wise to let the local communities decide for themselves how they are going to implement these programs.”

Shalala’s announcement appeared designed to avoid a political fight with congressional conservatives who have criticized needle-exchange programs for allegedly promoting drug use.

Congress temporarily banned the use of federal funds for the programs six months ago, until Shalala could determine whether they encourage drug use.

There are about 100 needle-exchange programs in operation around the nation.

AIDS activists were stunned by the decision.

“This is just political ploy to please all sides of this debate,” said Winnie Stachelberg, a spokeswoman for the gay and lesbian rights group Human Rights Campaign. “The administration is not taking into account what science is saying.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the decision showed “a lack of political will in the midst of a public health emergency.”

“The science in support of needle exchange is clear, the need is urgent, yet the administration’s response is equivocal,” Pelosi said.

Daniel Zingale, director of the activist group AIDS Action said, “Having life-saving science without allowing life-saving funding is morally indefensible.”

Stachelberg said that most communities do not have enough funds to keep local programs going.

The administration’s decision will “tie up the hands of local communities who want to start a program but don’t have the resources to,” she said in an interview. “These programs don’t come out of thin air.”