Kanawha-Charleston Health Department keeps needle exchange suspended

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department’s needle exchange program will remain suspended until board members come up with a solution to fix it.

“We hope to get it back up and running in a few weeks,” said Brenda Isaac, president of the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health.

The board voted Wednesday to continue the suspension until the next meeting is called. Isaac first announced the suspension Monday after Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper issued new rules for the needle exchange portion of the health department’s harm reduction program.

Board members want to seek advice from a medical attorney about the new rules, study West Virginia Health Right’s needle exchange program to see what is working for them and sit down with first responders, police, Mayor Danny Jones and council members to come up with a compromise.

A city council task force is reviewing the program for 60 days and plans to make recommendations sometime in May. The program will also be evaluated by the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

Mayor Jones said this week he wants the program to be shutdown for good. He said too many used needles are ending up in public places, which is causing safety issues in the city.

Advocates believe the program helps reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.

Isaac said KCHD has felt attacked during this controversy. She said she hopes they can reach some agreement by working together.

“The health department is feeling somewhat disrespected, and we can handle that, but I would like to see everybody work together. We are all on the same side,” she said.

The new rules for the health department’s program include implementing a one-to-one exchange, limiting the needle exchange to Kanawha County residents only in which participants would be required to present a government-issued photo identification and be tested every six months for blood-borne illnesses. Participants would only be able to receive needles if they returned all the needles given to them.

Isaac said she can get on board with some of the rules, but not all of them.

“We definitely are going to go to the one-to-one exchange. That definitely needs to be a rule. I don’t have a problem with that. I have no problem with trying to get some ID,” she said.

She said she is not a fan of using retractable needles.

“The more I read about the retractable needles, it can be dangerous and it can do harm to the clients. As a health professional, I don’t think we can do that,” Isaac said.

Last week, Health Right introduced retractable needles. Issac said she’s interested in talking to CEO Angie Settle about her program.

“There may be research out there that Dr. Settle has that we haven’t seen about the retractable needles, so I’m very anxious to have that happen,” she said.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Isaac told board members the CPD rules were “not written with public health in mind.” She said she does not want the rules to be written by a police chief with no medical background.

“If it’s a legal issue, a safety issue, a police issue, I have the utmost respect that our police chief knows what he’s doing, but we are the experts when it comes to public health. We do know public health,” Isaac said.

It will be a few weeks before the program sees any movement. Isaac said the goal is keep the program in place for those who desperately need it.

“In the number one state for opioid addiction, this is a necessity to have a harm reduction program that includes syringe exchange,” she said.

Isaac fears that eliminating the KCHD program could cause a ripple effect and eventually shutdown similar programs in the state.

Currently, there are 13 harm reduction programs that include syringe exchanges throughout West Virginia.





More News

News
As Yeager Airport's Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him
The new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role.
March 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm
News
Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes
The Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy.
March 28, 2024 - 6:20 pm
News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm