Cincinnati council adds needle exchange to 2018 budget

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati City Council has approved funding in the city’s 2018 budget for a needle exchange aimed at stopping the spread of HIV and hepatitis C by intravenous drug users.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports council voted last week to provide $150,000 to the program based at the University of Cincinnati. City money will pay for at least four mobile sites served by a van.

The program had been funded a 20-county nonprofit health agency called Interact for Health. A Cincinnati councilman began pushing for city funding of the needle-exchange program after grant money dried up.

It will be the first time the city has helped pay for such a program.