Madison County Sees Growing Needle Exchange Participation

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) — A central Indiana county that had a disappointing start to its needle-exchange program is now seeing rising participation in its efforts to slow the spread of hepatitis C.

Madison County public health coordinator Stephanie Grimes says the number of intravenous drug users taking part in the county's needle-exchange has doubled each month since October.

The county's needle-exchange program saw low participation when it began in July. But Grimes says that from August through December the program had 32 participants and 40 visits to its needle exchange sites.

The Herald Bulletin reports that the department has distributed more than 8,600 clean syringes and collected nearly 1,200 used syringes to prevent needle-sharing among IV drug users that can spread diseases.

Madison is one of four Indiana counties with state approval for needle exchange programs.