The Indiana bill legalizing needle exchanges refers to the services as syringe exchange programs, and most counties' terminology has followed suit. But earlier this month, Allen County announced the establishment of a syringe services program.

The county originally planned to partner with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to run the exchange, but that plan fell apart.

Wayne County ranks fourth in the state in Hepatitis C cases. They will work with Centerstone and Reed Health regional hospital to fund and staff the program.

The Allen County Board of Commissioners approved a needle exchange program to curb the spread of hepatitis C and HIV with a 2-1 vote.

People packed into a small meeting room Wednesday as the Scott County Commissioners considered whether to approve the health board's request to continue the program.

Indiana lawmakers banned state funding from going to the programs that provide intravenous drug users with clean syringes.

Monroe County was approved for a needle exchange in December when the state health commissioner declared a public health emergency. That allowed the creation of a needle-exchange program to curb the spread of hepatitis C tied to intravenous drug use.

Madison County public health coordinator Stephanie Grimes says the number of intravenous drug users taking part in the county's needle-exchange has doubled each month since October.

The Monroe County Health Department will use a grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and AIDS United to help fund its syringe exchange program.

Monroe County is the latest in Indiana to have been declared a public health emergency. State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams made the declaration today in response to an outbreak of hepatitis C.