Harm reduction under attack in West Virginia

Along with naloxone, volunteers with Save a Life Day distributed materials like this card outlining what to do in the event of a drug overdose on Sept. 14, 2023. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)

Since 2018 harm reduction in West Virginia has been under attack by state lawmakers, local politicians, law enforcement and community members (NIMBYs).

The syringe program in Charleston was forced to close due to politics in 2018 and in 2021 the state legislature passed Senate Bill 334 which implemented burdensome regulations on syringe service programs in West Virginia. The new legislation requires licensing for syringe distribution, in addition to myriad of other requirements, which forced over half of the harm reduction programs in the state to close down. There are only eight programs left in the entire state out of 19.

As a result, West Virginia has experienced an increase in HIV and hepatitis C, in addition to opioid overdose deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . This hasn’t stopped state lawmakers from introducing legislation that would outlaw evidence-based harm reduction services that are much needed in the state, such as syringe distribution, pipe distribution and an outright ban on methadone.

Delegates and senators have introduced bills such as Senate Bill 295, which outlaws methadone, Senate Bill 296, which outlaws syringe exchange programs, and House Bill 4667, which prohibits pipe distribution and is the only bill moving through the Legislature. These are only a few of the bills aimed at people who use drugs, an extremely marginalized and criminalized community already.

Lawmakers have heard the argument before about how harm reduction is an evidence-based public health approach that works and saves lives. Yet, they still passed the syringe bill restricting services. They have heard from constituents that these bills like these will cause higher rates of HIV and hepatitis C and possibly more overdose deaths. Yet, they continue to introduce and pass legislation that causes harm to people who use drugs.

When HB 4667 was introduced in the House Judiciary Committee, only two delegates spoke in opposition and one guest was called to testify. The delegates that spoke in opposition to the bill remarked on the public health effects that a pipe prohibition will have on individuals and their communities and one delegate mentioned the amount of emails and calls he had received concerning the bill. The bill still made it out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote this week.

Prohibiting the distribution of pipes will undoubtedly cause an increase in HIV, hepatitis C and overdose deaths. Research shows that having an alternative to injection drug use saves lives and provides a safer route of administration.

If we really want to embrace harm reduction in West Virginia, we need to embrace ALL parts of it. We cannot just be champions for naloxone and disregard the most important parts of harm reduction. We also cannot ignore the systems and institutions that continue to exist and conflict with the values of harm reduction but which we are forced to function within. We must work together to keep the practice of harm reduction in Appalachia — the fight is just beginning.

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