Clark County to make 2nd application for needle exchange

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana county plans to reapply to get state approval for a needle-exchange program to help slow the spread of HIV and other diseases among intravenous drug users.

Clark County Health Commissioner Kevin Burke told The (Louisville) Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/2c6ShQo ) on Tuesday that the county hopes to submit its second application by Wednesday. The county spent eight months trying to work out kinks with its first application.

Burke says the second application will outline why the program is needed and funding options. The county recently stopped talks with the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation to pay for the program. Burke says the state didn't support how the foundation would fund the needle exchange.

Burke says the foundation isn't included in the new application. He says the county will look to Indiana nonprofits for funding.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com