When it was approved in August 2015, and finally kicked off in November 2015, the Fayette County needle exchange program had the primary goal of decreasing the spread of infectious disease within the county from intravenous drug use.
It appears, as of this week, it is attaining that goal.
Paula Maupin, nurse with the Fayette County Health Department, gave Fayette County Council an idea of the success the program – renewed for a second year this past summer by the Indiana State Department of Health – is having during their meeting Tuesday night.
The biggest success, thus far, is the impact the program has made on reducing the number of Hepatitis C cases within Fayette County. The county, in recent years, has had one of the highest rates per capita of Hepatitis C cases in the state, due to the sharing of dirty needles by drug abusers.
Per Maupin, the county – at the start of 2015 – had 108 case investigations of Hepatitis C within the county, per the ISDH, and as of the start of 2016, saw that figure drop to 84 – a 22 percent decrease.
“I’m greatly encouraged by that,” Maupin told the council.
Much of that can be attributed to the needle exchange program, which not only offers clean needles to individuals in exchange for used ones, but also provides educational material on how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV.
The program, to date, has issued roughly 6,700 clean needles to individuals within the county, while collecting about 7,500, according to Maupin – a long way from when the program began in November 2015, in the parking lot of the old Erb Lumber facility, without a single participant.
The program now has 44 participants, with roughly 20 of those returning to the Fayette County Health Department – where the needle exchange is located now – on a regular basis, Maupin added. Three of those have gotten into drug treatment, she continued, with one constantly updating her on their ongoing sobriety.
“That means a lot to me,” she said.
Councilwoman Shirley Wise asked Maupin if the program, which was criticized by many upon its approval in 2015, is making an impact.
“It’s doing what it was proposed to do?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” Maupin replied. “The 22 percent decrease is because of the education we give them and the tools we give them to prevent spread of the disease.”
The program also, in its own little way, is helping make headway among the population of people who struggle with drug addiction, Maupin concluded.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “Just a little kindness goes a long way. It gives people that hope that there’s hope for them, and they’re not a lost cause.”