The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that more than 3 million Americans (21 percent) of 14.8 million drug users injected at least one illicit drug. Deaths related to drug us have risen every year since 1990. Higher purity drugs have contributed to higher incidences of serious health consequences. Heroin, one of the most frequency injected drugs is on the rise. The Center for Disease Control reported that in June 2000 HIV/AIDS found that 500,000 to 600,000 Americans were living with HIV and 320,000 were living with AIDS. Thirty-three percent of those with HIV contacted the disease from homosexual sex and another 15 percent were identified as injecting drug users. Fifty-three percent of those with AIDS had resulted from male homosexual sex or from male homosexual who injected drugs. Studies in 2000 from the science community showed that intravenous drug users share HIV-contaminated equipment even though they have access to clean needles. With needle exchange programs (NEPs) across the country citizens are concerned about hazards created by junkies discarding dirty needles in public places, so most citizens are against the NEPs. The author concludes that NEPs are an improper use of government funding and such programs do not assist in the prevention of the spread of HIV infection. 32 Notes