A bill that would give counties the ability to create needle exchange programs without the permission of the state passed the Indiana House on Tuesday, but not without some vocal opposition.
The measure cleared the House on a 72-26 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Two Democrats joined 24 Republicans in voting against the bill.
Rep. Lloyd Arnold, R-Leavenworth, and some other lawmakers worried the bill would act more as a needle distribution program rather than an exchange.
"I feel like we’re enabling," Arnold said.
Arnold noted that Clark County recently started its needle exchange program and that while new needles were distributed on the first day, no old needles were returned. Other lawmakers said the number of needles returned would likely increase as time went on.
Currently, counties must have a public health emergency before they can be approved for a needle exchange. Supporters of the bill said giving counties, and not the state, the authority to set up such programs would allow for quicker responses to the spread of HIV and other health concerns.
"This gives them an opportunity to be proactive before an epidemic starts," said the bill's coauthor Rep. Steve Davisson, R-Salem. "We don’t want another situation that occurred in Scott County to happen again."
The measure is part of Gov. Eric Holcomb's effort to fight opioid abuse.
Also on Tuesday, Holcomb applied for an extension of the Healthy Indiana Plan, the state's Medicaid alternative, and requested that it be expanded to allow access to substance abuse services.
“Far too many Hoosiers are caught in the strangling grip of drugs,” Holcomb said in a statement. “I intend to attack Indiana’s drug epidemic with every tool available to state government, and this application reflects my commitment to doing just that.”
But others don't see the needle exchange program as a valuable part of Holcomb's plan. Last week, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill argued the program is more of a "needle give-away."
“I don’t want another Hoosier to die from their addiction – especially with a needle provided by the State of Indiana," Hill said.
Several lawmakers referred to Hill's comments during debate Tuesday on the House floor.
“He had no data; he had no factual information," said Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary. "He just felt that (drug use) would increase."