Louisville’s needle-exchange program expands to new site

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Louisville’s needle-exchange program is expanding to another site where people can swap dirty needles for clean ones.

Public health officials say the new community site will open Feb. 17.

The site will be open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a vacant lot owned by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority at 1455 Bicknell Avenue.

Public health officials opened the first community outreach site in October at the Lake Dreamland Fire Station. That site is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.

The main site is adjacent to the Public Health and Wellness headquarters in downtown Louisville.

The program is a response to the region’s struggles with heroin addiction. The goal is to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C and to steer drug users toward treatment.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.