Tell Obama Not to Cut Funding for Needle Exchange Programs
President Obama is expected to sign into law a prohibition on federal funding for needle exchange programs in both the United States and abroad. This new legislation would deliver a crushing blow to AIDS prevention programs, since injection drug use accounts for 36 percent of HIV infection.
Sign now to urge President Obama not to cut funding for these vital programs.
Needle exchange programs have proven significant in curbing HIV infection rates. If Obama signs the law to prohibit federal funding, not only will HIV rates rise as these programs disappear, but HIV and AIDS prevention programs will also be forced to spend their efforts trying to find new funding, rather than focusing on treatment programs and research.
Sign now to tell Obama that cutting funding for needle exchange programs is shortsighted. Though the U.S. might cut expenses through the new legislation, it will later pay for the longterm costs of increased HIV and AIDS infection.
We the undersigned urge you not to sign into law a prohibition on federal funding for needle exchange programs. This legislation would deliver a crushing blow to AIDS prevention programs, since injection drug use accounts for 36 percent of HIV infection, and needle exchange programs have proven significant in curbing HIV infection infection rates. A ban on federal funding would not only lead to a rise in HIV rates as needle exchange programs disappear, but would also force HIV and AIDS prevention programs to spend their efforts trying to find new funding, rather than focusing on treatment programs and research. In light of this, we believe that a prohibition on federal funding is shortsighted; though the country may save money in the short term, it will later pay for the long-term costs of increased HIV and AIDS infection.
