A Publication from The Kaiser Forums; Sponsored by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Edited by: Jeff Stryker, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies University of California-San Francisco; Mark Smith, M.D., M.B.A. -

The reason for this unanimous rejection was stated in Eisenstandt v. Baird: "It would be plainly unreasonable to assume that [the State] has prescribed pregnancy and the birth of an unwanted child [or the physical and psychological dangers of abortion] as punishment for fornication" 405 U.S. at 448. We remain reluctant to attribute any such scheme of values to the State.*

The analogy is not perfect, as most would argue that a reasonable societal goal is to eliminate all injection drug use, whereas the likely goal regarding sexual behavior is to delay intercourse until marriage or at least until an age of responsibility. Yet just as sexual intercourse among the young will not cease if access to contraceptives is withheld, injection drug use will continue with or without access to sterile needles and syringes.

* Carey v. Population Services International, 431 U.S. 678, 695, 52 L.Ed.2d 675, 97 S.Ct. 2010 (1977).

------------ Excluding clinicians, public health officials, and treatment center staff, there have been few spokespersons for the interests of injection drug users. ------------ Jeff Stryker Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California-San Francisco Mark Smith, M.D., M.B.A. Executive Vice President Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, Calif.

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