Needle Exchange A bill was recently introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature that would outlaw some of the state's most effective needle exchange programs. SB 334 was introduced by Senators Eric Tarr and Amy Grady; both are Republicans for District 4, which includes Mason, Jackson, Roane and Putnam counties. SB 334 would create a stricter license application process for harm reduction programs. Talking about HIV and other needle-borne illnesses can be scary — maybe that’s why so many of us don’t talk about it. But what if the stigmas are causing these health crises to worsen? HIV can spread throughout communities quickly, especially in places where there are high rates of people who use drugs. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Charleston, West Virginia, has the nation’s most alarming outbreak of HIV. Public health officials have been warning for years that Appalachia is vulnerable to outbreaks of the disease.