Yet Another Reason to End the War on Drugs: It's Fueling HIV/AIDS

Politicians, activists, scientists, and at least one Rocket Man are flocking to D.C. this week for the 19th International AIDS Conference. The biannual conference, hosted in the US for the first time in 22 years, will surely bring about countless speeches, tons of scienctific reports, and one giant blanket. But if the summit is to be successful, leaders must realize that winning the battle against AIDS can't happen until we end the War on Drugs.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV. And according to the Global Commission on Drug Policy, while we've seen dropping numbers of fatal cases since the first case was reported over 30 years ago, several countries have seen "devastating consequences" as a result of certain draconian policies. 

Outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, injection drug use is responsible for a third of all new infections. The statistics are particularly terrible in countries boasting harsh anti-drug laws. In Russia, for instance, the majority of state funding goes towards law enforcement, rather than treatment programs. As a result, we see handcuff happy cops focusing on filling up arrest quotas instead of putting injecting drug users in rehab. Fear of arrest keeps addicts away from HIV testing and prevention services, perpetuating spread of the virus. And the story isn't that much different back here in the US.

"It is so clear now that there is a relation between repressive drug policies and the spread of HIV/AIDS," said former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria. He's right. Fear of punishment steers abusers away from the help they need. Restriction on sterile syringe programs leads to increased needle sharing. Funds are thrown away on ineffective drug enforcement policies rather than treatment methods that actually work.

Forcing addicts into hiding won't stop AIDS. Neither will pushing laws that continue to view addiction as a crime. For the nineteenth time, leaders from across the globe will come together at the International AIDS Conference, hoping to find a solution that sticks. Well, here's one that just might work: Want to end AIDS? Then you better end the War on Drugs.

Comments

[tarran]

Just as the U.S. government prioritized the War on (Some) Drug( User)s over defeating the Taliban, government officials will prioritize the War on (Some) Drug( User)s over public health any day.

We are talking about the mass-murdering psychopaths that would order alcohol to be converted to a poisonous form as a measure to prevent people from enjoying it illicitly.

[anon]

For the nineteenth time,[...]

What could possibly make you think anyone would change their minds over merely 19 years? Hell, the War on DRUGZ! has been going on almost a century. One would have to be insane to think it's going away anytime soon.

Because, you know, the CHILDRUNZ might die. Even though more die annually from alcohol and alcohol related incidents every year than the rest of the drug spectrum combined.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

Even though more die annually from alcohol and alcohol related incidents every year than the rest of the drug spectrum combined.

So, clearly, we need to redouble our efforts at controlling alcohol use. For teh childrunz.

PROHIBITION II - RESURRECTION

[anon]

Almanian, clearly, the right people weren't in charge that time. This time it'll be different. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye, etc.

[SIV]

Preventing AIDS isn't going to work as an end prohibition argument. Public Health is utilitarian and they won't trade off one "disease" for another. The illicit IV drug use/HIV connection has been known since they discovered HIV/AIDS. Even before that Jimmy Carter thought there was nothing wrong with poisoning the nation's marijuana supply to deter use.

... Copetas asked his first question to the president fairly calmly. He noted that the NIDA report had warned of lung fibrosis to American marijuana smokers.
Carter replied, "I am not familiar with the bill. My understanding is that American money is not used to purchase the paraquat. I think Mexico buys this material from other countries and they use their own personnel to spray it with. My preference is that marijuana not be grown or smoked. It is illegal."
.... He's lying, Copetas thought. The president of the United States is lying to the American people. ...
"What about the thirteen million dollars a year that is being channeled into Mexico now, that is being used with the helicopters to go out spraying the fields, or DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, intelligence that goes out to help eradicate these fields?".....
[President Carter:} "I favor this relationship with Mexico,".... Marijuana happens to be an illicit drug that is included under the overall drug-control program, and I favor this program very strongly."

[Dunphy (the real one)]

article is rubbish. it says things aren't much different here in the US

the reality is that, like many other things that reason tries to take a "it's all the same" approach, shit varies WIDELY state to state

in some states, like mine, needles are easily available over the counter. walk into almost any drug store (a few pharmacists as personal policy refuse to sell w/o script), ask for some syringes and you can get them.

easy

furthermore, any # of needle exchanges will giv you free bags of fresh needles if you bring in old ones.

again... no questions asked.

is it true the situation is bad in SOME states? yes.

but to lump it all together and say "in the US" denies the very thing that makes us DIFFERENT - democratic republic.

people in my state can also order needles (and alcohol wipes over the internet) if they don't want to walk into a drugstore

but NO drugstore is going to call the cops because joe doper walks in and asks for a needle. it's OTC

should the WOD be demolished? yes

but glossing over the situation in the US without recognizing that in SOME states, anybody who shares a needle has ONLY themselves to blame as usual fails to recognize that it is radically different in some jurisdictions vs. others.

[Robert]

Last I heard (probably here or maybe StopTheDrugWar), all states but NJ had relegalized OTC syringe sales, and NJ was about to. I couldn't care less about needle exchange programs now.

[CampingInYourPark]

"Restriction on sterile syringe programs leads to increased needle sharing. Funds are thrown away on ineffective drug enforcement policies rather than treatment methods that actually work."

Yeah, well screw that too. I don't want my money spent on babysitting abusers in any form at all.