ACLU sues West Virginia over needle exchange law

The ACLU of West Virginia filed a lawsuit to halt a West Virginia law that imposes heavy restrictions on needle exchange services, which provide clean needles to those who inject drugs to prevent more serious health complications from dirty needles.

Senate Bill 334, which was signed into law this year and goes into effect July 9, puts restrictions on counties that operate these programs. Before any needle exchange service, the law requires that a majority of the county commissioners approve the program and requires anyone who operates a program be licensed with the Department of Health and Human Resources.