BEDFORD, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Health has declared a public health emergency in Lawrence County and will start a needle exchange program to stem the spread of hepatitis C.
“As we fight the national opioid epidemic, we’ve seen time and again that rising hepatitis C rates can be a sign that injection drug use is occurring in a community,” said State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. “Syringe exchange is one tool that can help prevent the spread of disease, so long as it’s part of a response that also includes access to testing, treatment and other services critical to improving individuals’ health.”
Indiana Senate Enrolled Act No. 461 makes exchange programs legal if certain requirements are met. The program will be in effect until September 29, 2017.