134 Selected Reform Responsa
Individuals who suffer from this syndrome can be helped for some time, but eventually death is certain. Use of drugs may also Kill, but it is possible to be cured of this habit and only a serious overdose or very long-term use will kill. Most deaths result from side effects of the drugs or crimes connected with drugs. Therefore drugs, although a major evil in our society, are the lesser evil for the individual.
We may therefore defend the providing of free needles to known drug users on the grounds that we are helping them to preserve their lives. They will be less likely to be afflicted by AIDS, and so will not spread this disease to others. Furthermore the possibility of a cure from their drug problems, although unlikely, exists. We may therefore say that to prevent a greater evil we will condone a lesser evil, and we do so on the grounds that saving a life permits anything accept murder and adultery. In this instance the life saving factor becomes predominant, and we would condone, albeit reluctantly, the distribution of free needles for this purpose.
June 1989