Public Comments

Hello, I am deeply troubled by this bill.  Needle exchange and clean need/syringe programs are evidence based initiatives that reduce the spread of HIV and Hep C.  I beg you to step down from your moral high horse and think about the additional burden on our already overwhelmed healthcare system.  This will be another nail in the coffin of increased healthcare rates over time.  Cutting Medicaid and putting stipulations on it will already do enough damage.  I would be happy to provide evidence based research for you to refer to.  There are many, and this isn’t evidenced from a single random study.  You can not legislate morality, but you can help ease the burden of the healthcare system and ensure a drug addict remains as healthy as they can to potentially seek treatment and become a contributing member of society.  I am very afraid of the future and access of healthcare in this state.  Please don’t make it be a death by a thousand cuts.

Thank you, Miranda Brunty MBA-HM

https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/syringe-services-for-people-who-inject-drugs-are-enormously-effective-but-remain-underused   Research shows that harm reduction programs, including needle/syringe services help prevent transmission of disease and do not increase drug related crimes or drug use.  This link is just one example to document this. This law is highly prejudicial to our citizens who suffer from addiction. Syring programs serve an important function accorging to the CDC as well. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-syringe-services/php/about/index.html    

I am a board certified physician in addiction medicine. This bill is not consistent with evidence-based practices or public safety. Failure to provide safe needles hurts both persons affected by addiction and places the public at risk. I oppose this bill.

Eliminating syringe programs would be disastrous in WV.  Safe Syringe disposal programs and historically exchange programs have reduced the spreading of infectious diseases, which have been elevated in WV with the opioid epidemic. Given the nature of IV substance use, this indicates a level of severity for physical dependence of substances and so harm reduction strategies are utilized to individuals taper off substances slowly given changes in tolerance. As a medical provider and community member concerned regarding the spread of infectious diseases, my hope is that this bill is not signed into law, particularly given cuts to Medicaid, which impacts half of West Virginians and will lead to reduced access to adequate medical care if/when diseases become contracted.

I urge you to vote no on HB 4413 and ANY similar bill that would make it unlawful to have needle exchange programs, bringing penalties of no more than $2,500/day to the owner/operators/individuals of these programs. This goes against all the evidence that supports needle exchange programs and other harm reduction programs that have helped Huntington and West Virginia be "ground zero" of recovery. Please turn to the evidence and support our neighbors who are facing substance issues, and do NOT criminalize the helpers.

I highly disagree with this bill because making syringe exchange programs illegal can be HIGHLY damaging to our homeless community. Syringe exchange programs were created to keep drug using homeless people safer by giving them clean, sterile needles for exchange for the used ones. This keeps our streets clean from used needles, protecting curious kids and people who walk. It also prevents the spread of disease (AIDS, HIV, etc.) from people reusing the same needles or using needles they find lying around. Taking this away can reverse the positive, increasing disease, harming children, and making our streets unclean.

During Mike Pence's tenure as the governor of Indiana, needle exchanges were banned. Consequently, there was a huge outbreak of HIV. He was forced to declare a public health emergency, during which the exchanges were once again permitted in the affected county. This slowed the outbreak. Following the order, the Indiana legislature passed HEA 1435, which allowed the needle exchanges to continue statewide. We should learn from the mistakes of other states in our rush to judge and punish addicts. Allowing addicts access to clean needles isn't about supporting their addiction. It is a public health issue. If you want to prioritize the lives of non-addicts over those who are addicted (not a very Christian thing to do), remember, disease outbreaks don't make those priorities, and others will be at risk.  

Greetings,

I am writing as a constituent, and most importantly, as a follower of Jesus Christ and an Episcopalian in the state of West Virginia.  Jesus drew near to the hurting and the addicted, and confronted the shame and stigma that so many people face. I urge you to oppose House Bill 4413, which would repeal West Virginia’s existing syringe services program statute and make syringe services programs unlawful.  Without syringe services, many high-risk individuals disengage entirely, increasing unsafe injection, needle litter,  and preventable disease transmission—costs that will ultimately be borne by taxpayers and the health care system. There are few syringe exchange services in our state who already operate under very restrictive guidelines.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), syringe services are associated with a 50% reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C incidence.  They also note that those who access syringe services are five times more likely to seek recovery services than those who do not. West Virginia continues to face some of the highest rates of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C in the nation. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce the spread of infectious disease, prevent overdose deaths, and serve as a primary point of contact connecting people to treatment, naloxone, and medical care. Replacing regulation with prohibition and civil penalties will not eliminate syringe access.  It will push it underground, reduce oversight, and worsen public health outcomes. The 120-day transition period offered in the bill is also unworkable, as providers are barred from offering the very services patients rely on during that transition. West Virginia should strengthen and improve oversight of syringe services programs—not ban them outright. I urge you to oppose this bill and support policies grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and the health and safety of our communities. You will be in my prayers through the legislative session.    

Sincerely,

Rev. Christopher Scott + Episcopal priest Clarksburg WV

I'm Rhonda Rogombe, the health policy analyst at WVCBP. I write as a public health expert and concerned citizen. I strongly urge this body to vote against this bill. Banning syringe service programs will increase statewide rates of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood-borne illnesses without reducing drug use. There are a lot of misconceptions about what a syringe service program is. I want to clarify that they do not simply hand out syringes. These programs are subject to rigorous reporting and must offer other services to support recovery. People who utilize a syringe service program are five times as likely to enter recovery because of the support and community they foster within these programs. SSPs help people safely dispose of syringes that could otherwise become litter. They offer referrals to recovery programs and other services that reduce drug use, address mental health issues, and improve life outcomes. They make communities safer, not only for people who use drugs, but for everyone. Syringe service programs also reduce the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood-borne illnesses by reducing the repetitive and/or multi-person use of syringes. The CDC found that these programs can reduce the prevalence of these illnesses by 50%, which is meaningful in a state that has recently experienced HIV outbreaks. Prevention means the state will spend less money on chronic illnesses that significantly impact life outcomes while prioritizing public health.

Please do not limit any further the syringe exchange program. Please keep West Virginias safe from diseases passed along through the use of dirty needles.

Greetings,

I am writing as a constituent, and most importantly, as a follower of Jesus Christ and an Episcopalian in the state of West Virginia.  Jesus drew near to the hurting and the addicted, and confronted the shame and stigma that so many people face. 

I urge you to oppose House Bill 4413, which would repeal West Virginia’s existing syringe services program statute and make syringe services programs unlawful.  Without syringe services, many high-risk individuals disengage entirely, increasing unsafe injection, needle litter,  and preventable disease transmission—costs that will ultimately be borne by taxpayers and the health care system.

There are few syringe exchange services in our state who already operate under very restrictive guidelines.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), syringe services are associated with a 50% reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C incidence.  They also note that those who access syringe services are five times more likely to seek recovery services than those who do not.  

West Virginia continues to face some of the highest rates of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C in the nation. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce the spread of infectious disease, prevent overdose deaths, and serve as a primary point of contact connecting people to treatment, naloxone, and medical care.

Replacing regulation with prohibition and civil penalties will not eliminate syringe access.  It will push it underground, reduce oversight, and worsen public health outcomes. The 120-day transition period offered in the bill is also unworkable, as providers are barred from offering the very services patients rely on during that transition.

West Virginia should strengthen and improve oversight of syringe services programs—not ban them outright. I urge you to oppose this bill and support policies grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and the health and safety of our communities.

You will be in my prayers through the legislative session.  

Sincerely,

The Very Rev. Tommy Sheppard Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church Moundsville, WV

Greetings,

 

I am writing as a constituent, and most importantly, as a follower of Jesus Christ and an Episcopalian in the state of West Virginia.  Jesus drew near to the hurting and the addicted, and confronted the shame and stigma that so many people face. 

I urge you to oppose House Bill 4413, which would repeal West Virginia’s existing syringe services program statute and make syringe services programs unlawful.  Without syringe services, many high-risk individuals disengage entirely, increasing unsafe injection, needle litter,  and preventable disease transmission—costs that will ultimately be borne by taxpayers and the health care system.

There are few syringe exchange services in our state who already operate under very restrictive guidelines.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), syringe services are associated with a 50% reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C incidence.  They also note that those who access syringe services are five times more likely to seek recovery services than those who do not.  

West Virginia continues to face some of the highest rates of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C in the nation. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce the spread of infectious disease, prevent overdose deaths, and serve as a primary point of contact connecting people to treatment, naloxone, and medical care.

Replacing regulation with prohibition and civil penalties will not eliminate syringe access.  It will push it underground, reduce oversight, and worsen public health outcomes. The 120-day transition period offered in the bill is also unworkable, as providers are barred from offering the very services patients rely on during that transition.

West Virginia should strengthen and improve oversight of syringe services programs—not ban them outright. I urge you to oppose this bill and support policies grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and the health and safety of our communities.

You will be in my prayers through the legislative session.  

Sincerely,

The Rev. Scott F. Williams

Priest-in-Charge, Trinity Episcopal Church, Morgantown

My name is Lake Sidikman and I am a licensed social worker and the Harm Reduction Program Coordinator at the Women's Health Center of West Virginia. I'm writing today to speak to the importance of Syringe Service Programs (SSPs). According to the CDC, SSPs can reduce rates of HIV and Hepatitis C spread by up to 50%, which in a state with a large HIV outbreak is a crucial public health intervention. People who use SSPs are also up to 5 times more likely to enter treatment for Substance Use Disorder- these programs help providers make sustained, meaningful connection with clients who might need extra time to enter recovery. Licensed SSPs in West Virginia have a legal obligation to provide wraparound services and outside referrals, carefully track and report data, and help people dispose of used syringes safely and consistently. Banning SSPs will not make people stop injecting drugs, it will force people to reuse syringes until they are dull and breaking and share syringes with other people and drastically increase their risk for disease. Not allowing people to have a safe place to dispose of used sharps and receive clean ones only increases the amount of used syringes in the community. SSPs are a medical service provided by people with expert knowledge, and a ban would infringe on the freedom of these experts to provide evidence-based, compassionate health care to West Virginians.

Needle exchange programs are a much debated but nevertheless well documented force for good in the world of infectious disease control/prevention (https://gmr.scholasticahq.com/article/83277-a-case-for-needle-exchange-programs-not-letting-perfection-be-the-enemy-of-the-good,) and yet this bill would eliminate these programs due to an ill-conceived notion that our communities our better off without these lifesaving programs in our public health settings. Participation in needle exchange prevents the spread of blood borne disease, while simultaneously acting as an entryway to allow people experiencing substance use disorder access into recovery and other harm reduction programming. If you do not care for the health of the most downtrodden in our community, then you should at least understand and consider that ending these programs will cost the state more to care for new HIV and Hepatitis C patients who will contract these diseases without clean needle access and rely on the state for lifelong follow up medical care.

I'm ashamed to see that this bill is being sponsored in both the house and senate. Syringe exchange services help save lives while also cutting down on bloodborne pathogens being passed along to others. Wanting to further harm reduction, including reducing the chance that a person who doesn't use IV drugs gets an infection from a loved one who does, should be at the top of everyone in this area's priority list. West Virginia was hit hard by the opioid epidemic and will continue to be hard hit by it until we, as a people, come together and encourage safe use habits as well as helping people get help when they want/need it.

I do not support illegal drug use. To be clear a needle program, like the one trying to be made illegal, doesn’t “enable” drug use.  It makes it safer. Even if the bill sponsors don’t care about the user, they should care about public health. Communicable diseases DO NOT stay in the drug user population- they spread. My husband has been a volunteer fireman for decades, the number of times he has been exposed to pathogens is astronomical and we are fortunate that nothing came of it. Having needle programs protects our first responders. It also protects sons and daughters who are figuring out adult life in college- they don’t have to use drugs to be exposed.  There are so many unintended consequences to this bill that could directly impact people who do not use drugs.

So we're wanting to allow people to NOT get vaccinated, yet we won't allow programs that will prevent the spread of disease? Instead we should be implementing programs to HELP those who are addicted to substances instead of creating a culture where they can not only be on drugs, but are also at risk for further disease such as HIV and Hepatitis. Do you want to see an increase in HIV and Hepatitis in West Virginia?  I agree that we should not make it easy for people to use drugs, but what harm reduction and needle exchange programs do is allow for an opportunity to assist with rehabilitation.  It's not just about needle exchange, it's about access to individuals who need help and continuously working towards getting them to ultimately be drug free.  Please vote no.

This will result in more deaths. That is not an exaggeration. Needle exchange programs have been IMMENSELY helpful in lowering deaths and helping people get opportunities to get help. This is one of the only good things going for people experiencing addiction. Eliminating this program only harms those who are already the worst off. If you're going to eliminate it, what you are going to do to replace it? What "real solution" do you have proposed or ready to go to take the place of this life-saving program?

West Virginia leads the nation in overdose deaths and infectious disease outbreaks, yet this bill seeks to dismantle the only evidence-based tool we have to stop the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C. Criminalizing syringe exchanges, this legislature is effectively choosing to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on lifelong medical treatment for preventable infections rather than pennies on clean needles. We cannot ignore that Charleston and Huntington have already faced CDC-warned "HIV outbreaks" that mirror the third world; passing this bill is an invitation for those clusters to become a statewide epidemic. Furthermore, this bill endangers our police and first responders by forcing contaminated needles back into the shadows and onto our streets, increasing the risk of accidental needle sticks during searches. Harm reduction is not enabling addiction; it is the only bridge that keeps a person alive long enough to enter the very treatment programs this bill claims to support. You cannot rehabilitate a corpse, and you cannot protect public health by outlawing the tools that preserve it. If this bill passes, the resulting surge in deaths and healthcare costs will be the direct legacy of this committee.