Madison County To Extend Needle Exchange Program
At this week’s meeting the Madison County Commissioners agreed to consider extension of the Needle Exchange program, operated by Aspire Health of Indiana. Aspire began operating the program after a 2015 decision by the County Council to cease funding to the Health Department to operate it. Julie Foltz is Aspire’s Director for Infectious Diseases and tells us there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the program. She said many people still believe that taxpayer money pays for the program, but actually almost all of their funding comes from private donations and grant funding. Foltz said statistics show that the program reduces the instances of hepatitis and they provide other resources such as education and medical needs. The commissioners final vote is expected February 18th.
