ACLU sues West Virginia over needle exchange lawhttps://justthenews.com/nation/states/aclu-sues-west-virginia-over-needle-exchange-lawThe ACLU has filed a lawsuit to halt a West Virginia law that imposes heavy restrictions on needle exchange services, which provide clean needles to those who inject drugs to prevent more serious health complications from dirty needles.
Senate Bill 334, which was signed into law this year and goes into effect July 9, puts restrictions on counties that operate these programs. Before any needle exchange service, the law requires that a majority of the county commissioners approve the program and requires anyone who operates a program be licensed with the Department of Health and Human Resources.
The law allows a licensing fee up to $500 and requires the needle exchange provider be part of a harm reduction program that offers a variety of other services. They must also offer vaccinations, HIV screenings, birth control, overdose prevention supplies and education, referrals to substance use treatment programs, one-to-one needle exchanges and a series of other services.
Although the law’s supporters argued this would provide safer services to those who use needle exchange programs, its opponents warned that it will force a lot of other suppliers to shut down because they will be unable to comply with all of the new rules.
As SF residents can ruefully attest, supposed one-to-one needle exchanges end up "compassionately" giving out new needles without collecting the used ones. The result being used needles in gutters, on sidewalks, and in parks where children play.
