New Law Cited in Decision to End Needle Exchange Program - U.S. News & World Report
PRINCETON, W.Va. (AP) — A southern West Virginia health department has stopped its needle exchange program due to strict requirements under a new state law, officials said.
The Mercer County Health Department voted Wednesday to discontinue its program, saying the new regulations are so strict that compliance is not possible, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported.
“Under the new law, we can’t comply,” Health Department Administrator Roger Topping told board members. He noted almost 50 requirements that had to be approved for a license to offer a harm reduction program that includes a needle exchange.
Health officials had begun a needle exchange in 2019 in order to prevent the spread of diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV.
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source: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/west-virginia/articles/2021-09-23/new-law-cited-in-decision-to-end-needle-exchange-program
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