Pennsylvania: Needle Exchange to Grow?

Allegheny County's needle exchange program for drug addicts has been so successful in its first five months that it is looking to expand beyond its single distribution point -- a picnic table in the Allegheny County Health Department parking lot in Oakland. Bill Smith, secretary for the needle exchange committee, told the county health board last week that the program is considering adding distribution sites in McKeesport, the Hill District, North Side and East Liberty. The program, operated by the nonprofit Prevention Point Pittsburgh, could make an expansion proposal to the board for one or more of those locations in November. The Allegheny site is exchanging about 100 needles each Sunday between 12:30 pm and 2 pm.

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