The June 20 article on drug use Down East listed HIV and hepatitis C among the many health problems associated with opiate addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 56 percent of AIDS cases among women are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs. Overall, 36 percent of AIDS cases in the United States can be traced back to intravenous drug use.

This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of zero-tolerance policies that restrict access to clean syringes. Punitive drug laws compound the problem by driving use underground.

Would alcoholics seek help if doing so were tantamount to confessing to criminal activity? In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let’s hope “tough on drugs” politicians acknowledge the drug war’s tremendous collateral damage sooner rather than later.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

The Lindesmith Center

Drug Policy Foundation

Washington, D.C.