Full Article by MetroNews Staff | WV Metro News
In a major blow to public health efforts in Charleston, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) has suspended the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department’s (KCHD) harm reduction clinic, including its syringe exchange program. The decision follows a state evaluation that cited concerns about community support, needle recovery efforts, and referral tracking.
You can read the full story from MetroNews here:
👉 State suspends Kanawha-Charleston Health Department harm reduction clinic (MetroNews, May 14, 2018)
The suspension comes after months of mounting political pressure and public debate, much of it driven by concerns over discarded syringes. However, public health leaders continue to stress that harm reduction programs are critical tools for preventing the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C — and for connecting people to life-saving treatment services.
Brenda Isaac, President of the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health, previously emphasized the crucial role of harm reduction in a region devastated by the opioid epidemic:
“In the number one state for opioid addiction, this is a necessity to have a harm reduction program that includes syringe exchange.”
Health officials argue that suspending the program, rather than improving and refining it, puts vulnerable populations and the broader community at even greater risk. Isaac pointed out that while improvements to operations could be discussed, turning away from harm reduction altogether ignores public health science.
During previous discussions, she stressed the importance of public health expertise leading these programs:
“We are the experts when it comes to public health. We do know public health.”
The harm reduction program had already been temporarily suspended in March after new, highly restrictive rules were proposed by the Charleston Police Department — including mandatory 1-for-1 syringe returns, ID requirements, and limits on participation. Now, the full suspension by the state represents an even more serious setback for evidence-based efforts to curb infectious disease spread and engage people in recovery services.
While some city officials celebrate the closure, public health advocates warn that losing syringe services could fuel a rise in preventable illnesses and overdose deaths — at a time when Kanawha County remains highly vulnerable to HIV outbreaks tied to injection drug use.
As West Virginia grapples with the ongoing overdose crisis, the need for comprehensive, compassionate harm reduction has never been greater.
Read the full article: State suspends Kanawha-Charleston Health Department harm reduction clinic (MetroNews)
