ACTION ALERT: Call Your Senator about Protecting Syringe Exchange Programs

New York Pressure Needed TODAY and ongoing--Keep Calling the Senate About Syringe Exchange!!

Where Things Stand:
Negotiations are in the concluding stages. We have heard that the White House supports maintaining current Syringe Exchange law but that the Senate continues to be a problem. New York is one of the state’s that has seen dramatic reduction in HIV infection among injecting drug users. We must move forward, not backwards with HIV prevention strategies that WORK.

There have been remarkable gains in prevention over the past two years due to syringe exchange programs, all of which would be lost if language reinstating the federal ban on syringe exchange is included in the FY12 budget package.

What You Can Do:
Please call the following Senators and use this script:

My name is _______. I live in . I support syringe exchange programs. Numerous studies show that it decreases the rates of HIV and viral hepatitis infection. It is cost effective, it reduces drug use and helps connect people who inject drugs with substance abuse treatment services. Please maintain the current law that empowers local law enforcement and health officials to decide whether syringe exchange programs will work in their community.

We particularly want to reach Senators Inouye and Harkin; however, if you can only make one call, please call Senator Reid. Even if you’ve made a call already we need to get calls in to keep the pressure on the Senate.

Here are the numbers:

• Harry Reid (D-NV) Majority Leader: 202-224-3542
• Dick Durbin (D) Majority Whip, Financial Services Subcommittee Chair: 202-224-2152
• Chuck Schumer (D) Democratic Policy Committee Chair: 202-224-6542
• Daniel Inouye (D) Appropriations Chairman: 202-224-3934
• Tom Harkin (D) Labor, HHS Subcommittee Chair: 202-224-3254

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