North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms introduces a law banning federal funding for needle exchange programs, known as the Health Omnibus Programs Extension Act of 1988.

The act establishes support for investment in HIV prevention, testing, and education, but contains a significant clause: “None of the funds provided under this Act or an amendment made by this Act shall be used to provide individuals with hypodermic needles or syringes so that such individuals may use illegal drugs, unless the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service determines that a demonstration syringe exchange program would be effective in reducing drug abuse and the risk that the public will become infected with the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.”

The harm reduction movement will continue to fight against this law.