Health District will explore needle exchange program
The United States is in the grips of one of the worst heroin epidemics in its history.
EPHRATA — Through the wonders of the world wide web, the world is at your fingertips. But for every light there is a darkness.
The United States is in the grips of one of the worst heroin epidemics in its history. It’s cheap and it can be found online and delivered to your doorstep, whether you live in the city or the suburbs or the country.
It has reached a level of regular usage not seen since heroin's peak in the mid-1970s, when government studies estimated 550,000 regular users. Studies estimate the number of heroin users is around 330,000 and on the rise, up about 75 percent from five years ago and up almost three times compared with the decade low of 119,000 in 2003.
"It's really on the top of everyone's radar from a public health perspective," Homeland Security director Thomas MacLellan told USA Today.
It’s on the radar here in Grant County as well.
The Grant County Health District passed Resolution 16-3 Wednesday night to explore a needle exchange intervention program in Grant County. The syringe exchange program would help reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C by turning the used syringe into a commodity, which means users are less likely to leave syringes in public places.
“I am probably more involved than most physicians in Grant County. I ran a Suboxone program out of my clinic for people that were addicted to opiates and to kick heroin. I highly support any type of needle exchange program,” said board member Dr. David Curnel of Moses Lake. “The real issue with heroin is that it’s cheaper than it’s ever been. You’d think as a commodity it should be going up. But you pay more for an Oxycodone tablet on the street than you do for an average dose of heroin. There is a smokeable form of heroin, but it’s almost always injected.”
United States Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell is on record for making opioid abuse and overdose a priority. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has implemented a Washington State Interagency Opioid Working Plan due to a growing crisis involving prescription opioids in the state.
GCHD administrator Theresa Adkinson said the health board will not be asking health community partners to fund the project, but to help explore how it can be implemented and maintained on a long-term basis. The cost is estimated around $25,000 annually.
“We’ve done a comparison with other communities. Cost could vary, depending on who the host is,” Adkinson said. “The one thing I know about Grant County is when you put a good, solid program together, you can find the funding. The Homeless Taskforce will be a critical partner. I think the funding side of things is out there.”
Some of the other needed participants involve local law enforcement, food banks, churches, pharmacies, the Grant County Housing Authority as well as others.
According to information gathered by staff epidemiologist Shawta Sackett, cost of the needle exchange programs average about $20 per user annually. Every $1 invested in the exchange saves $3 to $7 in HIV treatment. A $40 dose of Naloxone saves a life due to heroin overdose.
Poverty in Grant County ranges between 10.6 and 48 percent and the risk factors for heroin use include having an annual income of less than $20,000, according to the resolution. The needle exchange programs’ outreach focuses on low income, chronically homeless and unstably housed drug users and sex workers.
Because marijuana is legal for recreational use in Washington state, statistics indicate people who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to become addicted to heroin.
“The exchange program is not encouraging addicts, because they’re doing it anyway,” Dr. Curnel said. “What we’re doing is helping them do it more safely. I can’t imagine any physician or healthcare provider that would not be in full support of it.”
The benefits of the services extend to the friends and families of those they serve and the broader community healthcare system. Other benefits include:
— Protection to the health and safety of families, law enforcement, and public workers.
— Decreases transmission of community acquired wound type infections.
— Saves public resources used to care for uninsured people.
— Supports social connection between the individual and the community.