West Virginia health experts worry new law will ignite 'powder kegs' amid HIV outbreak

[TexasTowelie]

West Virginia is facing its second large HIV outbreak in two years, and the federal government is in Charleston to help. But there’s a key difference between the tools that are available now, and the ones the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could use during Cabell County’s 2019 outbreak: new restrictions from both the capital city and the state on programs that distribute sterile syringes.

Experts, including those at the CDC, agree that these sort of harm reduction programs are one of the most effective ways to prevent the rapid transmission of disease among people who inject drugs.

But the recent changes are making it difficult to most effectively respond to the outbreak in Charleston.

“We’ve kind of got our hands tied behind our back because of the new laws,” said Christine Teague, program director for the Ryan White HIV prevention program at Charleston Area Medical Center.

Read more: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2021/06/09/wv-law-harm-reduction-hiv-outbreak/

[underpants]

1. Mike Pence in Indiana

Did the same stupid ass thing and guess what, HIV outbreak out in the country not the cities.

I have family in Cabell and we lost one member to OD last year.

[OnDoutside]

2. Sorry about that.

[underpants]

3. He had a long history

WV has some pretty encompassing rehab programs. He was in one for years but still, you know, the drugs.

My mom was amazed at the jobs he’d held while in the midst of the drug use. Really good paying jobs both inside and outside. He was able to get off the couch. Roll out of bed at get there. He was a warm body who could be there - in WV that’s enough.

[OnDoutside]

4. A brother in law of mine had a similar path but with alcohol. He had been assaulted as a Social

Worker, and never really got over it, and because he knew the system, he was always able to game the rehab. Such a waste.

[Scrivener7]

5. These laws are having the effect desired by the people who passed them. They knew this was

going to happen and they tailored the laws so they would create the maximum disease spread.