A needle exchange program has been approved in Monroe County by State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams.
Adams declared a public health emergency for the county today that will run through Dec. 20, 2016, according to a release.
The syringe exchange program is believed to reduce the spread of hepatitis C linked to drug use.
"The syringe exchange is part of a comprehensive approach that will connect residents with treatment, healthcare and other services critical to improving their health and halting the spread of disease," Adams said in the release.
Earlier this year, Governor Mike Pence overrode a state law that bans needle exchanges in order to remedy an HIV outbreak in Scott County earlier this year. The Senate Enrolled Act 461 legalized the needle exchange in Indiana for the first time in May.
The law requires that providers give needle exchange participants drug treatment information and referrals to local treatment programs.
The Monroe County Health Department declared a local public health emergency in August 2015 in the county because of an epidemic of hepatitis C.
During the past five years, the number of hepatitis C cases has risen over 50 percent, according to the emergency declaration written by the Monroe County Health Commissioner Thomas Sharp in August. One reason for the rise was an increase of drug use, according to the August declaration.
In 2009, the Indiana State Department of Health confirmed 63 new cases of Hepatitis C in Monroe County. Last year, it was 138.
For questions about the needle exchange program, contact Kathy Hewett at the Monroe County Health Department at (812) 349-2722.
Lindsay Moore
