The state of Indiana is considering expansion of its harm reduction efforts. This week, we look at House Bill 1438, to promote public health and give communities more effective tools to address injection drug use.
In March of 2015, Indiana Governor Mike Pence – our new vice president, hashtag #ImpeachPenceFirst – signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the state of Indiana relating to an outbreak of HIV related to injection drug use. That state of emergency cleared the way for some municipalities in the state to allow the operation of limited syringe exchanges.
Indiana has a new governor now, Republican Eric Holcomb. Holcomb has already stated that these syringe exchanges should continue, and he's come out in support of legislation to make it easier for public health officials to provide these services. House Bill 1438 was recently introduced in the Indiana House of Representatives. The first hearing on that bill was January Twenty-Fifth, before the Indiana House Committee on Public Health.
- KBOO