I understand that part of the controversy of feeling is about morality. I feel very strongly that it is immoral not to provide access to safer injection supplies –especially since the free will of people who are addicted is compromised, and we are not providing adequate access to effective drug treatment.

And even if people don’t care about people who inject (shame on them), then at least they should care about the non-injecting sexual partners of people who inject.

A good portion of heterosexual transmission of HIV takes place between people who inject and their non-injecting sexual partners. Most often this is a male injector infecting a female non-injector (because HIV is more easily passed sexually from male to female than female to male).

A sterile syringe or a condom costs pennies and can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs associated with a single HIV infection –not to mention the preventable human suffering.

To me, the morality clearly favors syringe access.

I say that after spending a lot of time learning and thinking about this issue. And I have almost 10 years of experience running a syringe exchange program.

I’ve seen the reality of syringe exchange, and I know that the fear and hype is unfounded.

Syringe exchange does incredible good, and results in no harm. It is not only as a place for people to access safer injections supplies (very important), but as a safe place for people who inject to gain access to medical care, drug treatment and other important services.

I hope that if people have concerns about syringe exchange, they will express them in a comment. I would like the chance to address their concerns.

I’ve had the experience of meeting with school officials, police chiefs, pubic health officials, business leaders and others in my community. And to a person, after people have a chance to have their concerns thoughtfully and respectfully addressed, they have supported syringe exchange not only in concept, but as a reality in their own community.

“Money saved by preventing infections could go to drug treatment and prevention.”