My book is now available at Amazon.com and through Barnes & Noble and yes, Tiahrt is given his due.The book can be ordered at www,Barnesandnoble.com
The book can probably be ordered through your local Borders as well.
Tiahrt is mentioned in
Chapter 8
Paraphernalia
Equipment or Art, They Are Used to Ingest
The Fight Over Needle Exchange Programs to Prevent AIDS
Here is a comprehensive reference book to songs, publications and objects of art that reflected the last century's counter-cultures as well as government and mainstream press attempts to censor them.
in New York City alone and more than half of them were estimated to
have AIDS. And even with these alarming statistics, the government,
under President Reagan, wanted to prevent clean needle exchange or
distribution programs. There were many AIDS activists who where
running needle exchange programs (exchanging clean needles for old
ones) and providing the use of bleach to clean old needles when new ones
were not available. They were often harassed by police for violating drug
paraphernalia laws. When various groups advocated government-funded
needle exchange programs to counter AIDS, Nancy Reagan, then first
lady who made a crusade against casual drug use, came out against any
type of exchange or even bleach to clean old needles. “That would send
the wrong message,” she said.427
There’s no doubt that needle exchange programs work. Since these
programs were started, there has been a 30 percent drop in AIDS among
intravenous drug users, according to the National Institutes of Health. At
least 60 federally funded studies have shown that such programs work in
reducing AIDS. At the same time, these studies show no significant
increase in drug use attributed to these programs.428
Still, President Clinton, despite all the evidence, took the position that
there should be no federal funding for needle exchange programs. This
policy was taken despite recommendations by the president’s own
Advisory Council on AIDS and Health and Human Services Secretary
Donna Shalala, that such programs work.429.
Kansas Representative Todd Tiahrt, Republican, angered AIDS
activists by pushing for a ban on programs that distribute needles to
addicts in Washington, DC. Tiahrt, who got the ban passed with the help
of other conservatives, complained that these programs encourage drug
use. AIDS activists claim this program saved lives and Tiahrt’s actions
would literally kill people. Presently, needle exchange programs are
endorsed by DC Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey and former Surgeon
General C. Everett Koop. Representative Albert Wynn, Democrat from
Maryland, called Tiahrt’s move “arrogant and misguided.” Washington,
DC, has one of the nation’s highest rates of new HIV infections.430
Tiahrt said these programs promote drug abuse and don’t work. He
cited a study done by the Office of National Drug Control Policy that
claims the public health risks of needle exchange programs outweigh
their benefits431.The ONDCP is a hawkish “war on drugs” organization.
By using them as a source, we see that Tiahrt is more concerned with his
twisted sense of morality than the public welfare. And this is not the first
time.
Besides the AIDS issue, Washington, DC’s, home rule advocates were
also angered that the federal government is dictating what programs they
can operate on the local level. Tiahrt’s bill also included a ban on the use
of medical marijuana. This is not the first time Tiahrt has led an effort to
halt needle exchange programs. Two years earlier, he voted for a House
amendment to ban the use of any tax money for needle exchange
programs.432
429 Clarence Lusane, “Right Turn on Clean Needles,” The Wichita Eagle, 4 May 1998, p. 6A.
430 New York Times News Service, “Tiahrt Angers AIDS Activists,” The
Wichita Eagle, 1 August 1999, p. 19A
431 Ibid.
432 “Tiahrt Gets Support for Ban on Needles,” The Wichita Eagle, 8
August 1998, 3A.
433 Eleanor Krohn
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