Lexington will launch a needle exchange program Friday at the Fayette County Health Department. The initiative aims to reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis.
The needle exchange local option is just one facet of the state law aimed at addressing heroin related issues. Lexington Health Commissioner Rice Leach says used needles should be transported in stick proof containers. “If you’re gonna bring them in in a bag, okay,” said Leach. “But we’d rather you bring them in in a butter container or drop them down in a two liter Coke bottle or something like that.”
Leach says used needles must be brought in to receive clean ones. Participants can have up to 21 new needles per visit. Lexington Public Safety Commissioner Ronnie Bastin says law enforcement will not target users, but traffickers are a different story. “If you have a drug dealer who’s trying to get needles and use that as part of the opportunity to sell drugs or whatever, then that becomes another matter,” said Bastin.
At a health department briefing on Thursday, safe sex advocate Freida Downey pitched the idea of mobile distribution. “The people are scared and they do want help, but they don’t want always to have their face shown,” Downey explained. “So if you have a mobile unit out in the street, you can have an exchange go quickly out on the street, and testing.”
Health Commissioner Leach says an expansion of the needle exchange program may occur over time. In addition to free needles, the program will offer testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, educational materials, and a safe disposal of dirty needles. The exchange service runs each Friday from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Fayette County Health Department on Newtown Pike.?
