Syringe exchange programs must be approved by both city councils and county commissions, and they can withdraw support at any time. “That’s a pretty precarious way to operate,” Pollini said.

A bill was recently introduced in the West Virginia Legislature that would ban syringe services programs. Some lawmakers have argued that offering clean syringes in exchange for used ones abets drug use.

“It’s really aggravating what’s happening on the political scene right now, because they’re not deferring to the experts in the field,” Priddy said.

Pollini said: “Let us do the things that we know work.”

Kilkenny, who was recently elected president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said he believes if the will is there, overdose deaths could be reduced by 90%. He said he believes in aiming high, and that a public health department has a critical role to play in getting there.

“We want children to have fewer adverse childhood events,” he said. “We want families to be more resilient.”

As for Neal, she said she made it out of the “madness” and was welcomed into Project Hope. She is raising her baby daughter and working as a Project Hope peer support recovery specialist. Her objective is to help other women get the resources they need to break their addictions.

©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.