A bill that would help fight the spread of HIV and hepatitis C has been introduced and state health officials have given their support of the legislation.

With intravenous drug use on the rise in North Dakota, Republican Senator Howard Anderson is sponsoring the proposed bill. The bill supports a program that promotes the exchange of used needles for sterile needles to help reduce the chance of contaminated needles being shared.

Currently, 33 states use such programs to fight the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. Cases in North Dakota has recently increased and similar programs in other states have been effective in reducing the spread of such diseases.

Source: Miami Herald

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