The massive spending bill Congress passed last week includes money that could help Indiana communities who’ve adopted needle exchange programs.
After legislators changed state law to allow needle exchange programs in counties facing public health emergencies, three exchanges are operating and more are waiting for state approval.
However, there's no state funding allocated for the programs.
Co-Director of the Rural Center for AIDS and STD Prevention Beth Meyerson says the recently-passed federal spending bill could provide cash-strapped counties some relief.
It includes money for syringe access services.
"It’s clear that it does not provide for funding for the purchase of sterile needles or syringes," Meyerson says. "But it does provide for funding around syringe access services. So think of the myriad of services that would be around a program that would try to link people inject drugs to services and treatment and testing, etc."
Meyerson says legislators should provide some state money to help support syringe exchanges.
