Louisville needle exchange to add third location

Hailing Louisville's needle exchange program as a success, Metro health officials on Thursday announced that they plan to expand its reach by adding a third location.

“In the first six months, we’ve saved lives” and money in health care costs, said Dr. Sarah Moyer, interim director of the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, told a Metro Council committee.

The new site will be at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3640 River Park Drive in western Louisville, where users can exchange their needles once a week. It joins Lake Dreamland Fire Station in southwestern Louisville, opened in October, that serves a handful of participants, as a satellite location.

Louisville started its needle exchange program in a trailer downtown at the city's Public Health and Wellness headquarters with a goal of reducing the transmission of blood-borne diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C.

Since opening in June, health officials said, the exchange program overall has served 1,329 participants and referred 88 people for drug treatment. Moyer said that 156 people have been tested for HIV - so far all negative. Since September, 86 people have been tested for Hepatitis C with 52 testing positive.

Moyer said studies show exchange program users are five times more likely to go into treatment and that the program reduces disease and does not lead to increased drug use.

Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch said the program was “much needed. … I know people in my own community who have children who are hooked on heroin, and they’re so distressed. …We need more sites in our suburban areas.”

And health department officials said they’re researching ways to create safe drop boxes for needles in some parts of town.

The program doesn’t require a one-for-one needle exchange, which has caused concerns, Moyer said. Councilwoman Marilyn Parker asked whether the city should start requiring participants to bring needles.

“Every time someone has to bring in needles to be exchanged, that’s more face-to-face encounters that is going to connect them with treatment,” she said.

But Moyer said studies have shown it’s more effective not to require that needles be brought in.

She said there is an overall 2-1 exchange rate. Sometimes the needles are confiscated by police or the users don’t want to carry around used needles in a container and some users are still getting police citations, even after declaring they are participating in the exchange program, officials said.

Health officials said they aren’t sure how many of those referred to treatment have followed through or found an available bed for treatment amid a long-standing shortage. But they said while some participants have been into treatment repeatedly, others can’t get the longer-term treatment they need or have multiple problems, such as psychiatric treatment, that aren’t being addressed.

Moyer said participants are given not only needles but information on how to get Naloxone, an overdose rescue drug. Councilman David Yates said that drug has saved at least one of his constituents.

Assistant Metro Police Chief Michael Sullivan said there has been no apparent increase in overdoses near the sites, nor has any report of people been stuck by a needle from the exchange.

Reporter Chris Kenning can be reached at ckenning@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4697