Members Urge Office of National Drug Control Policy to Support Needle Exchange Programs

In a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Chairman Waxman and Rep. Barbara Lee responded to Director John Walter’s unsupported assertion that needle exchange programs “support” injection drug use. The letter cites numerous studies that found needle exchange programs help reduce the spread of HIV and other dangerous infectious diseases without encouraging or increasing drug use, and in fact provide opportunities to reduce illegal drug use.