By Eric Boodman / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Rural counties suddenly have high rates of hepatitis C, and it’s a very expensive disease to treat,” says Alice Bell, a coordinator at Prevention Point Pittsburgh, a needle exchange program that disperses clean needles. “It’s going to bankrupt the local health departments.”
Ms. Bell has heard many stories like Mr. Stamerra’s. The people who come into the needle exchange often report being turned away from pharmacies. Some people -- especially in small towns -- are afraid to go in and ask for syringes because of the stigma surrounding heroin addiction. But for those who do go in, the sale often depends on how you look.
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