Lexington’s needle exchange program is adding an on-site rehabilitation referral service beginning this Friday.
The Fayette County Health Department’s needle exchange program runs every Friday afternoon. Starting this week, Substance Abuse and Violence Intervention Program Administrator Amy Baker will be available from 1:30 to 3:30 on Fridays.
Health Department Spokesman Kevin Hall says Baker has 20 years of experience in the substance abuse field. “Sometimes navigating these programs can be difficult. People want help. They are just not sure how to go about getting it,” Hall says. “It can be a bit overwhelming.”
Since it began last fall, Lexington’s needle exchange program has collected more than ten thousand used needles. Hall says well over 10,000 clean needles have been given out. “The people who are repeat clients to this program, if they leave one Friday with 21 needles, they come back the following Friday with 21 needles at the minimum. Although, often times they’ll bring you back more because they’ve collected out in the community. They’ve found them somewhere and they’re helping to clean it up. To make sure there aren’t dirty needles out out on the streets,” explained Hall.
Hall says the program has been successful since day one in fighting the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV.?
