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HUNTINGTON â While Republicans say it wonât, health leaders in West Virginia say a bill passed by the state Senate last week means the end of syringe exchanges in the state, which has two of the worst HIV outbreaks in the country.
âIâm sorry that the misconception is this bill has sought compromise that would allow continued operation of syringe service programs,â said Dr. Michael Kilkenny, health officer for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department. âI do not see that harm reduction programs or syringe program aspects could continue under this if it becomes law.â
Senate Bill 334, passed by the Senate on March 9, establishes a licensing program within the state Department of Health and Human Resources for harm reduction programs operating syringe exchange programs.
HUNTINGTON â While Republicans say it wonât, health leaders in West Virginia say a bill passed by the state Senate last week means the end of syringe exchanges in the state, which has two of the worst HIV outbreaks in the country.
âIâm sorry that the misconception is this bill has sought compromise that would allow continued operation of syringe service programs,â said Dr. Michael Kilkenny, health officer for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department. âI do not see that harm reduction programs or syringe program aspects could continue under this if it becomes law.â
Senate Bill 334, passed by the Senate on March 9, establishes a licensing program within the state Department of Health and Human Resources for harm reduction programs operating syringe exchange programs.
'No justification:' Senate bill will end syringe services in W.Va., experts say | News herald-dispatch.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from herald-dispatch.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fatal Overdoses: Pandemic is Especially Deadly for West Virginians Battling Addictions
The COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out but there’s no obvious fix for other long term medical consequences of the pandemic.
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the deadliest year ever for overdose deaths in the twelve months between June 2019 and June 2020. Lethal overdoses were up by 20%. Isolation, anxiety and boredom, three triggers for drug abuse, have created the so-called mental health ‘shadow pandemic.’
And for West Virginia, an existing shortage of healthcare professionals means there are not enough workers for hospitals, clinics and treatment centers that are seeing more patients in distress.