Point of Hope Needle Exchange
When: Every Thursday beginning today (Nov. 19)

Where: parking lot of former Erb Lumber, 3100 Virginia Ave.

Hours: Today, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; every Thursday after, 9 a.m. to noon

For more information contact (765) 222-1525 or (765) 265-7661
After being approved to have a needle exchange program in August, Fayette County will finally unveil that program to the public today.

Point of Hope Needle Exchange, a needle exchange program being operated by the Fayette County Health Department, will open to the public this afternoon in the parking lot of the former Erb Lumber at 3100 Virginia Ave.

The program comes after the Indiana State Department of Health announced a public health emergency in August for Fayette County, paving the way for the county to create a needle exchange as part of the local effort to reduce the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV through intravenous drug use.

Fayette County Health Officer Dr. Wayne White declared a public health emergency in June for the county, based on the 74 cases of Hepatitis C the county had seen as of June 2, which matched the total of Hepatitis C cases Fayette County had for all of 2014.

That, in addition to a total of 13 overdose deaths the county saw in 2014, prompted the declaration.

The county was also identified earlier this spring in a report by Dr. Beth Meyerson, an assistant professor of applied health science at Indiana University Bloomington and co-director of the IU Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, as one of several counties at high-risk for the possible spread of HIV, which occurred in Scott County earlier this year.

The program will not only offer a needle exchange for intravenous drug users within Fayette County, but also help enroll those utilizing the program into the Indiana HIP 2.0 health insurance program, refer participants to addiction treatment upon their request and providing outreach to drug users not only through a central location but also on the streets through partner agencies and staff, among other efforts.

It will also offer free HIV and Hepatitis C testing for those utilizing the program, according to the county health department.

The program isn’t without responsibilities on those participating, however, per Paula Maupin, nurse for the Fayette County Health Department.

Among those responsibilities will be the following:

- Participants will be responsible for the syringes they are given and to return used syringes to the needle exchange in safe disposable containers.

- Participants are to treat staff, interns, volunteers and community members with courtesy and respect without physical, sexual, verbal and/or emotional abuse, threats or intimidation.

- Participants are to keep the area safe and refrain from engaging in any drug activity. Drugs and drug activity are not allowed on or near the premises.

- Participants are not to buy, sell or loan money or property while on the premises.

- Participants are to protect the confidentiality of other participants encountered while participating in the needle exchange.

- Participants are to take only what is needed and dispose of used materials and supplies properly.

Commissioner Zane Badore, during Tuesday’s commissioners meeting, said the program is not a sign from the county condoning drug abuse — a criticism that has been leveled at the county by some in the community — but rather a step at addressing the public health situation regarding HIV and Hepatitis C, while also attempting to help addicted individuals seek help.

“We cannot fix this community if we don’t help these people,” Badore said. “ For those of you that are out there saying we’re condoning it, we’re not condoning it. I completely disagree. I’d rather see all these people drug-free and get an education ... if we don’t fix the problem now, it’s just going to spiral out of control. That’s all I have to say about that.”

The needle exchange program will take place every Thursday, beginning today, at the former Erb Lumber at 3100 Virginia Ave., with the exception of holidays.

Hours today are from 1 to 4 p.m., but then will be from 9 a.m. to noon every Thursday hereafter, according to the health department.

The program will be anonymous and confidential to those utilizing it. Those seeking clean needles will be required to turn in used needles.
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