Federal judge issues order halting needle syringe law from taking effect By
June 28, 2021 - 9:17 pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order stopping a new law affecting needle exchange programs from going into effect next month.
The order from Judge Robert Chambers of the U.S. District Court for West Virginia’s southern district came after the American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter requested such action ahead of the law going into effect July 9. Chambers requested a preliminary injunction hearing for July 8, in which the court will then consider possibly issuing a preliminary injunction.
Ohio Valley ReSource
A federal judge in West Virginia has issued a temporary restraining order to stop a new state law that would put strict restrictions on needle exchange programs.
In a court filing issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a temporary restraining order to block the implementation of
Senate Bill 334. Gov. Jim Justice signed the measure into law in April, with an effective date set for July 9.
The pending law doesn’t explicitly wipe out harm reduction programs, but would set standards that operators say could bar access to care.
Senate Bill 334 would require programs to apply and become licensed and would also limit the number of needles it hands out by requiring participants to return their used needles to get a clean one in exchange. It also would require participants to show state-issued identification.
HUNTINGTON â A federal judge has temporarily halted the implementation of a law that severely restricts syringe exchange programs in West Virginia.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chambers issued the temporary restraining order Monday, prohibiting the state from enforcing Senate Bill 334. A preliminary injunction hearing has been set for July 8, a day before the new law goes into effect. The hearing will determine if the stay will continue throughout the lawsuit.
The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia filed a lawsuit Friday in the Southern District Court of West Virginia on behalf of Milan Puskar Health Right, a clinic running harm reduction services, including a syringe program, in Morgantown; Lawson Koeppel, president of the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition, according to the West Virginia Secretary of Stateâs office; Alina Lemire and Carrie Ware.
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Apr 16, 2021
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It has become clear that West Virginiaâs opioid epidemic did not take a holiday amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
According to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths in West Virginia were up more than 40% from August 2019 to August 2020.
So, what does our 2021 West Virginia Legislature do? Lawmakers passed bills that many experts believe will only make it more difficult for those living through substance use disorder.
Such heavy-hitters as West Virginia University, WVU Medicine, Preston Taylor Community Health Centers, Milan Puskar Health Right, Monongalia County Schools and the Morgantown Counseling Center along with various clergy and others who work in the rehab field have signed a letter imploring the governor to veto the restrictive bill known as Senate Bill 334.