Needle Exchange

Health officials in Northern Kentucky are concerned about a “cluster” of HIV cases.

In 2017 there were 18 case of HIV connected with intravenous drug use in Kenton and Campbell counties. Dr. Lynne Saddler, of the Northern Kentucky Health Department, said at a press conference Tuesday that’s a significant leap over much lower numbers over the last decade. At the most those counties have had five cases each year since 2008.. And, she said, that cluster is reason for concern that there might be a larger problem on the horizon.

Another community in south central Kentucky has signed off on the creation of a needle exchange for drug abusers. In a 4-3 vote, the Barren County Fiscal Court approved the program that will allow intravenous drug users to swap dirty needles for clean ones at the local health department.

Louisville Metro Public Health can provide new syringes to people regardless of whether used syringes are exchanged, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Louisville’s health department is operating what’s called a needs-based negotiation model, which provides multiple clean syringes regardless of whether participants bring in dirty ones.

The opinion issued Monday was requested by Senate President Robert Stivers,  a Republican from Manchester.

Fayette County's Health Commissioner is among those reviewing the final draft of plans for a needle exchange program.  Dr.

The Lexington Council is endorsing a needle exchange program. The initiative is a part of a new state law aimed at lowering diseases related to heroin use, including Hepatitis and HIV. Fayette County Health Commissioner Rice Leach brought the plan before city leaders Tuesday.  He says participants must bring in a needle to receive a clean one.  "If you bring in one, you only get one” said Leach.

Formation is underway of a task force that will oversee implementation of the state's new heroin law.  The co-chair of the task force says he witnessed heroin's rise in popularity in his community just over five years ago.

Local governments are already moving to set up needle exchanges just a day after the Kentucky state legislature authorized the programs through a comprehensive heroin bill.

If implemented, drug users would be able to exchange dirty needles for clean ones from local public health departments.

Rice Leach, the commissioner of the Lexington-Fayette County Public Health Department, said needle exchanges would stymie the transfer of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV.

The Kentucky House version of heroin legislation has cleared its first hurdle.  The full House could vote on the measure this Friday.

Lawmakers in the Kentucky House of Representatives have announced details of their own bill to combat the heroin epidemic in the state.  It varies from a measure passed by the state Senate in January.