Wayne County needle exchange to battle hepatitis C to start in August 2016

Commissioner Mary Anne Butters told attendees at last week's Heroin Is Here group meeting the once-a-month program will begin on a Thursday in August, but she said she did not yet know which Thursday. Butters also told the group the program would be located at Centerstone's Recovery Engagement Center at 200 N. 13th St.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams on June 3 declared a public health emergency for the county, the final approval step necessary for implementing Wayne County's program. Commissioners had unanimously voted April 20 to approve a resolution allowing the county to ask the state to declare the public health emergency.

The Indiana State Department of Health received Wayne County's application May 31, and Adams' declaration made the county Indiana's fifth to receive an emergency declaration, joining Fayette, Madison, Monroe and Scott counties.

Eric Coulter, executive director of the Wayne County Health Department, said after receiving the emergency declaration that the county would need 30 to 60 days to implement the needle exchange program. He said the county would accept training offered by the state.