BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Health Department is moving the needle, literally. To slow the spread of disease and risk to the public emanating from used syringes among community members who inject substances, the health department is restarting the Needle Exchange program Monday.
Residents can trade their used needles for clean needles every Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“You can come to the back door and speak with a person who only desires to help you,” Martin County Health Department director Steven Ward said. “You are not required to call before visiting.”
During a client’s first visit, they will receive an ID card that will preserve their anonymity. They will also receive the number of needles they need for a week. On subsequent visits, they will receive a clean needle for every needle they bring back.
The program also provides free Narcan and training in how to use Narcan.
Ward warned the community in 2019 that Martin County ranked sixth in the nation in a study evaluating each county at risk for spreading HIV/AIDs and Hepatitis C and B through used needles or contaminated syringes.
With approval from the Martin County Fiscal Court, Inez and Warfield commissions, and other entities in the county, Ward initiated the needle exchange program at the health department in 2019. The program saw success but paused briefly due to a personnel shortage.
Ward is eager to see the program flourish again.
“Martin County is at risk for a hepatitis C outbreak,” said Ward. “And this is one of the tools to help prevent it, hopefully.”
While some residents oppose the program and believe it promotes drug use, Ward points out that participants are already using drugs.
“This is stopping the added issues that come with injecting substances, such as HIV and Hep C,” said Ward, adding that the risk to the public of being stuck by discarded needles poses a serious health threat.
Inez resident Kelli Jo Kirk supports the program. She and the East Kentucky ASD and SPD Support Group have recently joined forces with others to build The Christian Cage, an all-inclusive playground at Warfield Park.
Kirk worries that her children might inadvertently step on contaminated needles scattered in local parks.
“It’s something I worry about with the new park,” Kirk said. “I can’t take my kids to the park because I am terrified they will find a needle and be exposed to God knows what in the process. I see the needle exchange program as beneficial for keeping our community clean.”
Needle exchange programs are considered a best practice by the Centers for Disease Control for addressing the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections.