Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, says the Clinton administration is sending the wrong message about drugs by announcing it is studying federal funding for needle-exchange programs to help block the spread of AIDS among drug abusers.
"If you start giving free needles, it sends a message that government is sanctioning or at least looking the other way on the drug problem," said Hatch, a long-time member of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, which oversees drug abuse.On Wednesday, AIDS policy coordinator Kristine Gebbie told the U.S. Conference of Mayors that the Clinton administration is studying funding for needle exchanges but would not speculate when a decision on it would be reached.
"I'm concerned about it," Hatch told the Deseret News. "Anyone with any experience with drug abusers knows needle-exchange programs don't stop them from passing the same needle around once they get it."