Council members get progress report on needle exchange

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Metro Health authorities think putting clean needles in the hands of medication clients is sparing lives.

Metro Louisville's needles trade project began in June. The objective is keep the spread of hepatitis C, HIV and AIDS.

On Thursday, individuals from metro board got an advancement report on the initial 4 months of the system.

"Each individual they get in there is a win," said Diane Hague, Director of Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center or JADAC.

Hague said putting clean needles in the hands of medication clients does not empower medication use, but rather aides keep the spread of dangerous infections. "On the off chance that we were giving out medications, that would be empowering medication use; we are giving needles that are spotless so individuals won't spread Hepatitis C or HIV or AIDS."

In June, the Metro Health Department began a needle trade program inside this RV stopped outside the office's Gray Street office.

"Thus far it is working," said Dr. Sarah Moyer, Interim Metro Health Director.

Thursday evening, Dr. Moyer gave Metro Council an advancement report.

She said, "We've had 822 members and 325 individuals that have return more than once."

Wellbeing authorities are attempting to keep a HIV episode like the one we've seen in Austin, Indiana and say notwithstanding sparing lives, the system spares cash.

Dr. Moyer said, "The expense of treatment for Hepatitis C speaks the truth 80 to 90 thousand dollars yet in the event that you really take a gander at in the event that somebody who doesn't get treated...over a lifetime it cost more like 3, 3 to 4 hundred thousand dollars."

With the program's accomplishment, wellbeing authorities are presently during the time spent acquiring portable units to achieve clients in more postal districts.

"We think on the off chance that we make availability less demanding, we may have the capacity to recognize more addicts more addicts, expel a needles' portion from the road, get some of these individuals some assist and with diminishing the spread of HIV and Hepatitis," said District 25 Councilman David Yates.

In the interim, Diane Hague said the other upside is helping medication clients get therapeutic consideration if necessary. "They get associated promptly on the off chance that they need it, in the event that they don't need it instantly, we at any rate converse with them and they know where we are."

Wellbeing authorities say nobody has tried positive for HIV, be that as it may, they have seen some new hepatitis C cases.

The portable needles trade units ought to be set up before the week's over.