Virginia Public Radio

  The needle exchange in Wise is run out of the local health department.
(Credit Mallory Noe-Payne)

More than a year ago Virginia lawmakers gave nonprofits and local health departments in more than 50 localities the green light to set up needle exchanges. Permission was targeted to places where the opioid crisis is worst and Hepatitis C rates are high.

Since then, only three localities have decided to set up needle exchanges. In a two-part series Virginia Public Radio explores how the first one is going, and why there haven’t been more.

Part 1: ‘We Know the Possibility is Coming’ Why One Community Got on Board

Part 2: ‘A Free Pass’ vs. Keeping People Safe