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West Kentucky Health Officials to Examine Need for Needle Exchange Programs

Eric Molina, Wikimedia Commons

Some health departments in western Kentucky area are mulling the possibility of implementing needle exchange programs to stem transmission of bloodborne diseases like HIV and Hepititus C.

In March, Gov. Beshear signed SB 192, also known as the heroin bill, which gives local health departments the option of starting a program allowing addicts to swap out dirty needles for clean ones.

Earlier this week,Lousiville began the process of starting its own program and while needle use of drugs like heroin is more prevalent in other parts of the state, health officials are starting to take a look at whether the need for a program is great enough in our area.

Under the law, health department boards can research HIV numbers and overdose rates in their area to make recommendations on need, but Green Rivers District Health Department Director Deborah Fillman says an exchange program would also need approval from local government and law enforcement officials. But if the need was a great enough, they would find a way.   

"The primary purpose would be disease prevention," said Fillman. “Cost is a consideration but it would not be the deterrent; it would not be the reason we didn’t do it. Disease prevention is one of health departments' core functions. So if the need is there, we will certainly look at ways of preventing disease within our communities.”   

Purchase District Health Director Kent Koster says heroin use may be higher elsewhere, but now there’s no more waiting for the problem to get here.

 “You’re going to hear different stories from different people, but, it’s here, just like it is anywhere," said Koster. "You know, people are not always willing to participate in surveys to give you accurate responses. It is illegal, so you’re not going to get everyone who’s using heroin to say that they are.” 

 

Credit Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
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Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services' annual HIV/AIDS surveillance report says there were about 200 new HIV diagnoses in the Purchase, Green Rivers and Pennyrile regions between 2004 and 2014.

Koster says safety is top priority but preventing people from contracting HIV but another consideration is how much could be saved on treatment costs to taxpayers.

"First and foremost is prevention of other individuals from contracting HIV," said Koster. "Second is what it means for the taxpayers, when you're talking about spending over $100,000 on somebody who contracts HIV. Whether they're on the Medicaid program or they've got private insurance, somebody's got to pay for that. So that's just a couple of big reasons why it's important."

 

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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