by Olivia P. Tucker
Intern Reporter
Scottsburg City Council met Monday, Aug. 8, for the first public hearing on establishing a syringe exchange program, There were several that spoke in support of the program.
Kelly Hans, director of the Holding Space Recovery Project as well as she works with the Scott County Health department said “We are in an overdose crisis.”
“Research shows that syringe exchange programs are safe and effective and do not increase drug use or crime,” said Hans.
She said though not everyone agrees with the exchange program, people are going to use drugs regardless of whether people have access to clean syringes or not.
Hans said that the syringe exchange program creates a safe space and that change is scary to people that are in need of the program, change is not a process but an event to most people who are in need of it.
Jerrica Hall, who is in long-term recovery, shared her story with the council. In 2015, she was one that shared syringes and got HIV because of it.
“I am living proof that this program saves lives,” Hall said in tears, “It is so important because there are so many people that are out there struggling, sharing syringes because there is nothing in place for them.”
Hall said that there is hope for change, there has to be a place to go to and a safe space for those who need the program. She also said that the syringe exchange program is important for the change to happen.
Scott County Health Department Administrator, Michelle Matern, said that the county commissioners voted to end the syringe exchange program and it has been closed for seven months.
“The program was considered very successful,” Matern said, “even at the national level.”
The health department receives weekly calls asking if the program is still active, she said.
Matern said, “Although the health department cannot be involved with running a new syringe exchange program, we still advise and support one if allowed to do so.” She added that the issue should be a Scott County effort and not just an effort of the city.
Austin physician Dr. William Cooke said, “Every single life matters, we don’t have to agree with the choices that they are making. But every single person deserves a right to life and every person deserves access to care.”
“This is a tool that we really need in the community,” said Cooke.
Scott County Health Officer Dr. Kevin Rogers, said that he applied for the syringe exchange program in 2015 at the time there were no programs in the state of Indiana. He said that he was skeptical of the program, that it might enable drug use in the community, however in research he found that the program actually is helpful in a positive way.
Scottsburg City Councilman Ric Mann said, he has witnessed the program’s success through Hall, who is his niece.
“We lost our dear family member,” said Mann, “And we have her back.”
There was no action taken at the meeting due to not all of the council members being physically present.