The mayors, meeting in San Francisco, passed a resolution urging state and local public health officials to "utilize appropriate federal resources for needle exchange as part of a community's comprehensive HIV

prevention plan."

"Because they are at the front lines of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, the mayors understand that needle exchange programs save lives," said Winnie Stachelberg, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign. "This resolution underscores that the mayors need every tool available to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

The resolution presents a rationale for approving needle exchange programs that includes such facts as:

1. Six federally funded studies have reported that needle exchange
programs reduce HIV transmission and do not increase drug use.

2. Needle exchange programs can offer a bridge to drug treatment, HIV
prevention information and medical support services to hard-to-reach
populations.

3. Intravenous drug use is responsible for the greatest number of new
AIDS cases among the heterosexual population.

The mayors called on Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala to exercise her authority to lift the ban on spending federal money for needle exchange programs. That move would be consistent with President Clinton's remarks to the mayors Monday, especially when he said, "We have to continue to identify sound public health strategies that enable local communities to address the twin epidemics of AIDS and substance abuse."

In February, Shalala released a report concluding that needle exchange programs are effective in slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

"We agree with the mayors, as well as the scientific and public health community, that Secretary Shalala should lift the ban on spending federal money on needle exchange programs," Stachelberg said. "The mayors are clearly calling for a partnership with the federal government to implement these life-saving programs, which we hope the secretary will heed."

Currently, there are 113 needle exchange programs in 29 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the Conference of Mayors.

A majority of the American public -- 55 percent -- favors needle exchange programs as a method to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, according to a poll conducted for the Human Rights Campaign.

The poll found 55 percent "strongly favor" or "somewhat favor" needle exchange programs while 38 percent "somewhat oppose" or "strongly oppose" them. The poll was conducted for HRC by the Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, and Lake Sosin Snell and Associates, Democratic pollsters. The results are based on a survey of 1,000 registered voters.