Photo credit: Zaldylmg, Creative Commons

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The Fort Wayne-Allen County Health Department is prepping a needle exchange program.

The idea is to fight a rise of Hepatitis C cases in Allen County… usually health officials see 250 cases a year, but they've already seen 270 so far in 2015, according to Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahon:

“Per State legislation, you have to have an outbreak of HIV or Hepatitis C due to IV drug use, and we've had an outbreak of Hepatitis C, so we feel that now is the time (for the program).”

She does admit the program has its opponents, who fear it'll be seen as an encouragement for those using illegal drugs, but adds “this is part of a harm-reduction strategy… if I can't get you to change your behavior, perhaps I can minimize the risk of you giving other people lifetime infections. It's been studied since 1997 and multiple studies show it does not increase drug use.”

The program, expected to launch early next year pending City and County approval, will provide “clean needle” kits to IV and medicinal drug users in exchange for used needles.