The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s needle-exchange program is up and running. Officials report that on the first day – Sept. 4 – nine people turned in 259 used needles and 170 clean needles were distributed.
The free, anonymous and confidential program is designed to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis in Lexington.
“This is a public health issue for Lexington, and our program is designed to help stop the spread of these diseases,” said Dr. Rice Leach, Lexington’s commissioner of health, last week. “This program is going to work, and it is going to do good things for Lexington.
The needle-exchange program is available Fridays from 1:30-4 p.m. at 650 Newtown Pike.
From Lexington-Fayette County Health Department