FAIRMONT, W.Va. – When Senate Bill 334, the bill adding regulations to local harm reduction programs, takes effect on July 9 it will will seriously impact the program in Marion County, according to Health Officer Lloyd White.
The new law will add an ID from participants, a one-to-one needle exchange, a medical professional onsite and each program must complete an annual license process with local elected officials.
The annual licensing program includes new and existing programs. Programs must get approval from the county commission and sheriff in each locale.
“We’ll continue to operate our program until such time the law takes effect,” White said on WAJR’s Talk of the Town,” At that point in time, the day the law take effect we will pause out program until we can analyze if we want to continue or if we can continue.”
The new law also allows the Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification to assess penalties in the event provisions are violated.
“The penalties really concern me, from $500 to $10,000 that’s a pretty stiff penalty,” White said,” So, we’ll re-evaluate, but at this point in time If I had to make a decision right now about the future of our program- we certainly can’t continue it.”
White believes managing the new requirements would prove to be problematic for his staff as well as people who are participating.
“A lot of folks don’t have IDs- they’re transient, having clinicians onsite to offer services could very well be challenging,” White said,” Tracking the syringe one-to-one could be challenging.”
Harm reduction programs meet addicts where they are and accepts that they will use drugs. After accepting that, the program addresses the surroundings in an effort to create a safe environment and try to stop the spread of diseases like HIV.
” We’re simply saying these folks are already doing drugs, we just want to help you do it safer,” White said,” Because doing drugs safer does impact the quality of life and save lives.”
According to White, the Marion County program is funded with an $80,000 grant and 93-percent of the budget is dedicated to supplies. He says they have a needle exchange rate of more than 80-percent and they get people into treatment. He believes the program has limited the spread of dangerous diseases and has helped many people, including the residents of Marion County.
“We’re not looking at the benefits of those programs. I think we’re looking at only controlling the dirty needles or have a needle exchange program,” White said,” I think an overall harm reduction program should be all encompassing, we should tout the results of those programs and the fact it does save lives and truly get people off drugs.”
The bill was sponsored by Senator Eric Tarr of Putnam County.