- According to Donna Shalala, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, "A
meticulous scientific review has now proven that needle exchange programs can
reduce the transmission of HIV and save lives without losing ground in the battle
against illegal drugs."
Source: Shalala, D.E., Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Press release from Department of
Health and Human Services, (1998, April 20).

- "To date, nearly 40% of the 652,000 cases of AIDS reported in the United States
have been linked to injection drug use. And more than 75% of babies diagnosed
with HIV / AIDS were infected as a direct or indirect result of injection drug use
by a parent."
Source: Press release from Department of Health and Human Services, (1998, April 20).

- In 1996, 63% of the 375 new AIDS cases reported among children under age 13
were injection-related.
Source: Based on the number of new AIDS cases among children under age 13 for which the exposure group was
known. Centers for Disease Control, HIV / AIDS Surveillance Report, (Year-end edition), Vol. 8, No. 2.

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