The HIV outbreak in Scott County and the rising use of heroin in Tippecanoe County have prompted local groups to take action to prevent an epidemic in Greater Lafayette.
Last Wednesday, the Tippecanoe County Board of Health sent a letter to Gov. Mike Pence and Dr. Jerome Adams, the state health commissioner, asking them to relax the requirements to implement a needle exchange program.
"Instead of waiting for an epidemic to occur, if we see a trend, (county health departments) could initiate a needle exchange program at that point and prevent it from reaching epidemic levels like it did in Scott County," said Dr. Jeremy Adler, Tippecanoe County health officer.
As of May 22, 162 people have been diagnosed with HIV in southeastern Indiana, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
But as of May 11, fewer than five people in Tippecanoe County this year have tested positive for HIV, according to ISDH.
"We're not at a stage where we'd need a needle exchange program, but the fear is that what happened in Scott County could easily happen anywhere in Indiana, actually anywhere in the United States," Adler said.
Sex, drugs happen
Local groups — including Congress Street United Methodist Church's health ministries team, the Purdue University LGTBQ Center and Pride Lafayette — formed the HIV/AIDS Task Force of Central Indiana in early May.
Although the idea for the group originated last November, Rick Puckett, associate pastor at Congress Street UMC, believes the formation comes at a critical time in light of the Scott County HIV outbreak.
"I believe that we have just seen the tip of the iceberg," said Puckett, who also is co-vice president of Pride Lafayette. "I believe that we are going to be impacted by that epidemic."
Puckett said the task force's goal is to raise awareness and provide education on such issues as HIV transmission.
"Sex happens," said the Rev. Clarinda Crawford, pastor of Congress Street UMC. "It only takes one person, one time, to exchange a needle with somebody — (it works) the same way with sexual behavior."
Puckett said the group plans to host fundraisers to support services to local residents who recently have been diagnosed with HIV.
Puckett and Crawford believe a similar epidemic could occur here.
"They're connections all over," Puckett said. "Indiana has a high drug usage."