NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

CHAIRMAN

JURE. Osborn, M.D.

MEMBERS

Diane Ahrens

Scott Allen

Hon. Dick Cheney

Harton L. Daltan. Esq.
Hon, Edward J. Derwinski
Eunice Diaz. M.S.. MPH.
Donald §. Goldman, Esq.
Don C. DesJarlais. Ph. D.

Larry Kessler

Charles Konigsbere, M.D.. M.P.H.

Belinda Mason
David E. Rogers, M.D.
fon. J. Rov Rowland, M.D.

Hon, Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Maureen Byrnes

1730 K Street. N.W.. Suite 815
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 254-5125 [FAX] 254-3060

Press Release
Tuesday, November 7,

Contact: Thomas Brandt

1989 202-254-5125

NATION COMMISSION ON _ AIDS S_PO
ON BLEACH AND HIV CONTROL RESEARCH

The National Commission on AIDS today released a
statement in support of research projects designed to
determine the effectiveness of bleach distribution to

intravenous drug users as a means to control the spread

of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes

AIDS. The statement says:

"The National Commission on AIDS strongly supports
the continuation of research and demonstration projects
involving the distribution of bleach to reduce the spread
of HIV among intravenous drug users until the efficacy
of this approach can be determined. This determination
should be made by the Assistant Secretary for Health or
the Secretary of Health and Human Services."

Dr. June Osborn, Chairman of the Commission, said

today that it is important to public health to know
whether any of the various methods of distributing bleach
to IV drug users can reduce the spread of HIV.

Dr. David Rogers, Vice Chairman of the Commission,

said, "In the United States the conquest of AIDS will be

determined by how effectively we can contain the spread

of HIV among drug users."

-more-

 
Page 2 - Commission Statement

Several experiments are underway in the United
States to distribute common household bleach
to IV drug users in the hope that it would be used to
sterilize shared Syringes and hypodermic needles.—
Currently there is an increase in the
rate of new cases of HIV disease among IV drug
users. IV drug users also account for many heterosexually
transmitted cases of AIDS. Most infants who contract HIV
disease are infected by their mothers who are either IV
drug users or the sexual partners of IV drug users.
Congress may deal with the bleach issue during
reconsideration of the upcoming FY ’90 appropriation bill
for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The National Commission on AIDS is an independent

body created by Congress to oversee the national efforts

against the AIDS epidemic and to make "recommendations
for a consistent national policy concerning AIDS."

Five members were appointed by the Senate, five by
the House and two by the White House. In addition the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human

Services, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are non- ©

voting members.