needle exchange | RH Reality Check

Real Change or Changing Rhetoric? Monitoring the Shift in US Drug Policy

April 19, 2010 - 6:00am (Print)

Hey there, what’s that sound, everybody look what’s going down…in the presentation of U.S. global drug policy. Since President Obama’s election, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has been making noises about a shift in approach and priorities towards addressing drugs and drug problems — as opposed to its previous “War on Drugs” approach, which criminalized what is primarily a public health issue. Last month’s 53rd Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting was a marker on how the US would present this much-ballyhooed new face to the international community.

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Congress Passes Spending Bill, Allowing Needle Exchange and Removing DC Abortion Funding Ban

by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check

December 14, 2009 - 9:39am (Print)

Yesterday the Senate passed and sent to President Obama for signing a year-end funding bill for federal agencies that removes restrictions on funding for needle exchange programs and allows the District of Columbia to use its own funds to assist low-income women seeking abortions, among other changes.

Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson

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Removal of Ban on Needle Exchange Faces Opposition

by Paola Barahona, Physicians for Human Rights

July 17, 2009 - 7:00am (Print)

Last Friday, Congressman David Obey (D-WI), took the first -- and courageous -- step to end the 20-year ban on federal funding of needle exchange. But opponents are gearing up to reinstate the ban and prevention advocates need to mobilize now.

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Obama Budget Retains Needle Exchange Ban, Leaving Drug Users and Others at Risk

by Paola Barahona, Physicians for Human Rights

May 18, 2009 - 8:00am (Print)

President Obama has repeatedly expressed his support for lifting the ban on federal funding of needle exchange programs. So why it is still in his 2010 budget?

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Removing Obstacles to Prevention One Ban at A Time: New Bill Would Allow Federal Funds for Syringe Exchange

by Jodi Jacobson, Editor in Chief, RH Reality Check

January 7, 2009 - 2:13pm (Print)

Rep. Jose Serrano has introduced a bill to lift the federal ban on funding for syringe exchange to prevent the spread of HIV and other infections among injection drug users. Passing this bill quickly could save untold numbers of lives.

Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson

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