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FL Lawmakers Propose Clearing The Path For More Needle Exchange Programs

Joe Mabel via wikimedia commons

As opioid abuse rises across the state some lawmakers are pushing to clear the way for more needle exchange programs.  Many physicians whole-heartedly support the strategy as a way to reduce the harm of drug abuse.

The Florida Legislature greenlit a Miami Dade needle exchange pilot early in 2016.  Now a handful of state lawmakers want the Department of Health to facilitate similar initiatives at the request of hospitals and substance abuse programs.  In October, Dr. Aaron Wohl told state senators the pilot is already helping refer people to drug treatment and testing for diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.

“And the county health department has been able to link these HIV positive people as well as the Hepatitis positive folks to treatment with infectious disease treatment,” Wohl said.

And Wohl says dirty needles can also lead to other health complications like endocarditis—an infection of heart valves.

“The cost of that is in the $200,000-$300,000 dollar range,” Wohl explained.  “And so spending a little of it on harm reduction, and—yes I’m going to say it—needle or syringe access programs, to promote those are so important for our community.”

West Park Democrat Shevrin Jones is sponsoring the measure in the House and fellow Democrat Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens is carrying an identical bill in the Senate.  Republican Cary Pigman, an emergency physician from Sebring, is co-sponsoring the House bill.

The measure only directs the department to help administer programs if a local provider requests it.  Like the existing pilot project, organizers are prohibited from using any government money for the initiative.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.