ANDERSON — Results of Madison County's first syringe exchange program have been disappointing, said officials reviewing the project.
The program, started to combat the spread of hepatitis C, has been in operation for a month.
The Madison County Health Department, with approval from the Indiana State Department of Health, started the program this month at three locations and one mobile site.
The needle exchange program was established to prevent the spread of hepatitis C and HIV. Both infections can be contracted by contact with the blood of an infected person.
Kellie Kelley, public information officer for the Madison County Health Department, said three people have signed up for the program and a total of 54 needles were exchanged during the first month.
“It’s absolutely disappointing,” Kelley said. “We’re working on building trust.”
Kelley said local and state health officials were not surprised by the tepid response in the first month. She said in Scott County, the first county to implement a needle exchange program, the start was also slow.
“The Health Department is being flexible,” she said. “The mobile unit will move around Anderson. People can call and we will meet them at a safe location to meet and provide services.”
Kelley said the Health Department is relying on people who called to be a participant in the needle exchange program to bring other people with them.
“I’m proud to say that of the three, one tested positive for hepatitis C and was referred for care,” she said.
Kelley said the local health department is still seeing an increase in the number of hepatitis C cases as compared to last year.
“We anticipated the numbers would continue to increase,” she said. “More people are calling to make an appointment to be tested, so they are aware of the health risks.”
Kelley said the department is receiving calls daily where people are asking for details of the needle exchange program.
“The clients testing positive for hepatitis C don’t want to spread it to others,” she said. “Our goal is simple: Prevent disease and get people linked to care.”
Kelley said the Health Department is offering services to help clients with substance abuse problems, but they are not required to use the other services being provided.
According to health department statistics through Wednesday, 149 people have been tested for hepatitis C.
“We’re still past where we were last year,” Kelley said.
She said the Health Department presented a program to Elwood High School students about the dangers and would like to be in all the county schools.
Any school administrator can contact the health department to schedule an educational prevention program.
In 2013, there were 70 new cases of hepatitis C identified in Madison County and the number increased to 130 in 2014. The current rates will match or surpass last year’s levels.
The increase in the number of hepatitis C cases is a result of intravenous drug use by the sharing of needles and other equipment.
The preferred drug of choice is prescription pain pills that are diluted and then injected.