Organizational support for allowing syringe exchange in Texas continues to grow

AIDS Arms, Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation, and Mothers Against Teen Violence join an impressive list of Texas organizations supporting syringe access:

• AIDS ARMS
  
• AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN, INC.
  
• AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF TEXAS
  
• BEXAR AREA HARM REDUCTION COALITION
• BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT
• CLEAT
  
• COALITION FOR NURSES IN ADVANCED PRACTICE
  
• COASTAL BEND AIDS FOUNDATION
  
• COUNTY JUDGES & COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS
• CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA HEALTH CARE
• HARRIS COUNTY HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE
  
• HEPATITIS C ADVOCATE NETWORK
  
• HOUSTON AREA IMMUNIZATION PARTNERSHIP
• LATINO HIV TASK FORCE
• LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS
  
• LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
• LIVER HEALTH TODAY, HOUSTON
  
• MOTHERS AGAINST TEEN VIOLENCE
  
• PARKLAND HOSPITAL
  
• SAINT MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SAN ANTONIO
• SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION
• SCOTT & WHITE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE POLICY
  
• SOUTH TEXAS SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY SERVICES
• TEXAS ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
• TEXAS ACADEMY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
• TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT
  
• TEXAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
• TEXAS IMPACT
  
• TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
  
• TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION
  
• TEXAS PEDIATRIC SOCIETY
• TRINITY COUNTY
  

In a letter of support for House Bill 117 (see below), Joy Strickland, CEO Of Mothers Against Teen Violence, states "SEPs are in line with a public health approach to drug addiction, which is a medical/mental health problem. All Texans stand to benefit from fewer blood borne disease infections and from the safe disposal of used syringes.

Bill Hoelscher, Executive Director of Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation, states in a letter (see below) to HB 117 author Rep. McClendon (D-San Antonio), "Some may have concern that allowing needle exchange programs in Texas will be a nod of approval, that substance use is acceptable. Reality is that no has an answer to stop the wide spread use of drugs in Texas, but there is the potential to stop the spread of a disease that is costing us millions of dollars each year."

Several Texas County Judges and Sheriffs have written letters to their State Representatives supporting House Bill 117 and the potential for syringe exchange programs to avert new cases of HIV and reduce drug use in their localities.