West Virginia lawmakers approve needle exchange regulations

CHARLESTON,

W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia bill that would regulate needle exchange programs gained final approval in the Republicancontrolled legislature on Saturday amid a spike in HIV cases in the state.

Critics have said its more stringent requirements for the programs will constrain the number of providers who give clean syringes to injection drug users not able to quit the habit. The legislation would also require participants show an identification card to get a syringe.

Supporters said the legislation would help those addicted to opioids get connected to health care services fighting substance abuse.

Republican Gov. Jim Justice told reporters late Saturday before it won final passage in the House of Delegates that he supported the legislation.

Republicans backing the bill said the changes were necessary due to some needle exchange programs “operating so irresponsibly” that they were causing syringe litt er.

Democrats slammed the legislation before the House voted 67-32 to send it to the governor.

“We are really going to regret this. There are going to be people that are going to die,” said Democratic Del. Barbara Fleischauer. “A good needle exchange program opens the door for recovery. And we are going to be shutting that door.”

The new rules would take effect amid one of the nation’s highest spikes in HIV cases related to intravenous drug use.

The surge, clustered primarily around the capital of Charleston and the city of Huntington, is being attributed at least in part to the cancellation in 2018 of a needle exchange program.