Date: Tue, 06 May 97 18:00:16 EDT From: "Phil Attey" Subject: BIPARTISAN POLL FINDS MOST AMERICANS FAVOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE P ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 6, 1997 BIPARTISAN POLL FINDS MOST AMERICANS FAVOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS Bolsters Argument for Federal Funding, HRC Asserts WASHINGTON -- A majority of the American public -- 55 percent -- favors needle exchange programs as a method to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, according to a poll conducted for the Human Rights Campaign. "Science must and should drive the debate over needle exchange programs and their efficacy," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's legislative director. "But we hope members of Congress and the administration will heed this message from their constituents and work together to allow federal funds to be used for these life-saving programs." The poll found 55 percent "strongly favor" or "somewhat favor" needle exchange programs while 38 percent "somewhat oppose" or "strongly oppose" them. The poll was conducted for HRC by the Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, and Lake Sosin Snell and Associates, Democratic pollsters. The results are based on a survey of 1,000 registered voters contacted between April 8-10. The poll found that 64 percent of Democrats, 58 percent of independents and 45 percent of Republicans favor needle exchange programs. In addition, needle exchange finds support in ever region of the country, with 64 percent of Americans favoring it in the West, 60 percent in the Northeast, 51 percent in the South and 49 percent in the Midwest. The poll's margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent. In February, a report by the Department of Health and Human Services found that needle exchange programs are effective in slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS. But in order for federal funds to be used for such programs, HHS must also affirm that they do not increase illegal intravenous drug use. The report did not include that conclusion. Approximately one-third of reported AIDS cases are related to intravenous drug use. Also in February, a panel of public health experts at the National Institutes of Health concluded that needle exchange programs are a powerful and proven weapon in the war against HIV and AIDS. They also charged that politics continue to block institution of such programs. Plus, many respected public health organizations have reviewed the research on needle exchange programs and agree that they work. These organizations include the National Academy of Sciences, the National Commission on AIDS, the American Medical Association, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the American Public Health Association. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. ________________________________________________________ POLL RESULTS: The Tarrance Group and Lake Sosin Snell & Associates Date: April 29, 1997 To: The Human Rights Campaign From: Lori Gudermuth The Tarrance Group (R) Celinda Lake, Jennifer Sosin and Dana Stanley Lake Sosin Snell & Associates (D) Re: AMERICANS SUPPORT NEEDLE EXCHANGE A new national poll by the Tarrance Group (R) and Lake Sosin Snell & Associates (D) shows that a majority (55%) of the American public favors needle exchange programs: Some local communities have adopted "needle exchange " programs as a way to curb the spread of AIDS and HIV "Needle exchange" programs allow drug users to trade in USED needles for CLEAN needles. Generally speaking, do you FAVOR or OPPOSE these kinds of "needle exchange" programs? FOLLOW-UP: Is that STRONGLY favor/oppose), or SOMEWHAT favor/oppose)? strongly favor 32 55 somewhat favor 23 somewhat oppose 9 strongly oppose 29 37 (don't know) 8 Republicans are split evenly on this issue (45% favor, 48% oppose, 7% don't know), and moderate-liberal Republicans favor needle exchange by 17 percentage points (57% favor, 40% oppose, 3% don't know). Strong majorities of both independents (58% favor, 33% oppose, 9% don't know) and Democrats (64% favor, 29% oppose, 7% don't know) are in favor. Needle exchange also finds support in every region of the country': 60%-32% in the Northeast, 49%-44% in the Midwest, 51%-40% in the South, and 64%-30% in the West. This memorandum reports the findings from a national survey of 1,000 adults who indicated they are registered to vote, conducted April 8-10, 1997, by The Tarrance Group and Lake Sosin Snell & Associates. The overall margin of error is plus/minus 3.1 percent. - 30 -