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Science, Ideology, and Needle Exchange Programs

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  • Martin T. Schechter

Abstract

Needle exchange programs (NEPs) to prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users are accepted in many countries but remain at the center of heated debate in the United States. In 1997, the author published a study of injection drug users in Vancouver showing an explosive outbreak of HIV. An incidental finding was higher HIV rates among frequent attendees of the local NEP. While this was expected because NEPs attract users at highest risk, opponents of needle exchange applied an unsupportable causal interpretation to this finding. If frequent NEP attendees had higher HIV rates, so the interpretation went, NEPs must be responsible for promoting the spread of HIV. Despite the author's admonitions against this misinterpretation of the data, it was used as part of a successful campaign to oppose U.S. federal funding of needle exchange. Regrettably, biased or even misleading interpretations often occur in the volatile interface of imperfect science and ideological debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin T. Schechter, 2002. "Science, Ideology, and Needle Exchange Programs," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 582(1), pages 94-101, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:582:y:2002:i:1:p:94-101
    DOI: 10.1177/000271620258200107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stimson, Gerry V., 1995. "Aids and injecting drug use in the United Kingdom, 1987-1993: The policy response and the prevention of the epidemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 699-716, September.
    2. Kaplan, E.H. & Khoshnood, K. & Heimer, R., 1994. "A decline in HIV-infected needles returned to New Haven's needle exchange program: Client shift or needle exchange?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(12), pages 1991-1994.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert MacCoun & Peter Reuter, 2002. "PREFACE The Varieties of Drug Control at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 582(1), pages 7-19, July.

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