COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A bill passed by the Ohio House wouldlet communities set up programs for
drug users to exchange dirty needlesfor clean syringes.Backers say the bipartisan bill helps
addresspublic health concerns linked to Ohio’s growing heroin problem byslowing the spread of hepatitis
C, HIV and other infections that can bepassed among intravenous drug users on a dirty syringe.Some
conservative Republicans argue it would enable drug users instead of addressing the root problems.The
House passed the legislation Wednesday, sending it to the Senate.Alead sponsor, Democratic Rep. Nickie
Antonio of Lakewood, tells TheColumbus Dispatch that 28 other states allow needle exchanges.Undercurrent
law, needle exchanges can be created in Ohio only with adeclared health emergency. Cleveland and
Portsmouth have such programs.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A bill passed by the Ohio House wouldlet
communities set up programs for drug users to exchange dirty needlesfor clean syringes.Backers say the
bipartisan bill helps addresspublic health concerns linked to Ohio’s growing heroin problem byslowing
the spread of hepatitis C, HIV and other infections that can bepassed among intravenous drug users on a
dirty syringe.Some conservative Republicans argue it would enable drug users instead of addressing the
root problems.The House passed the legislation Wednesday, sending it to the Senate.Alead sponsor,
Democratic Rep. Nickie Antonio of Lakewood, tells TheColumbus Dispatch that 28 other states allow needle
exchanges.Undercurrent law, needle exchanges can be created in Ohio only with adeclared health
emergency. Cleveland and Portsmouth have such programs.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.