Why: Each year, approximately 8,000 Americans contract HIV/AIDS and approximately 12,000 Americans contract the hepatitis C virus directly or indirectly from sharing contaminated syringes. Almost 1/3 of every reported HIV/AIDS case in the U.S. has been attributed, either directly or indirectly, to injection drug use.  Sixty percent of hepatitis C cases are attributable to injection drug use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that syringe exchange programs "can be an effective component of a comprehensive strategy to prevent HIV and other blood-borne infectious diseases in communities that choose to implement them."  Making clean, sterile syringes available is a simple, cost-effective method of saving lives and providing care to hard to reach populations.

 

Great strides were made last year when Congress lifted the federal ban against Washington DC using its funds to support syringe exchange.  Unfortunately, since 1988, there has been a Congressional ban the use of federal funds for Syringe Exchange Programs nationwide. By allowing federal dollars to fund Syringe Exchange Programs, the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention (CAHP) Act of 2009 will save thousands of lives and help reduce high risk behavior.  We must pass the Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act of 2009 and end the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange.