Health officials promise to expand syringe exchanges, but will it happen?

Public health leaders are promising to do more this year to stem the concerning spikes in HIV and hepatitis C rates they say has been driven largely by the opioid epidemic. Officials in Hamilton and Clermont counties are considering at least three new syringe exchange sites as they work to bolster the newly formed Exchange Project. More details about the program are expected to be unveiled Friday during a morning event planned at Hamilton County Public Health, which is helping lead the effort. Health officials say syringe exchange programs -- which give IV drug users clean needles and offer onsite testing -- are critical and proven to decrease the spread of life-threatening and costly infectious diseases. But in some parts of the region, similar programs have received considerable pushback. Opponents argue the services enable illegal behavior by providing tools to use drugs.