Milan Puskar Health Right’s harm reduction initiative, known as the LIGHT (Living in Good Health Together) Program, recently marked its 10-year anniversary while showcasing significant achievements in community health. Between October 2024 and September 2025, the program distributed 235,435 syringes and collected 206,437 used needles, achieving a return rate of nearly 88%. This figure aligns with the program’s objective of maintaining an exchange rate between 85% and 90%.
Over the past year, the LIGHT Program served 1,457 visits from 594 unique visitors, including 195 new participants from several counties: Monongalia (110), Marion (28), Preston (26), and Harrison (19). This marks an increase from the previous year, when the program reported 186,580 syringes distributed and a 79% return rate from 545 unique visitors.
During a recent meeting, Laura Jones, Executive Director of Milan Puskar Health Right, provided an update to the Morgantown City Council regarding the program’s advancements and requested support for its continuation. Following the enactment of SB334 by the West Virginia Legislature in 2021, annual letters of support from both city and county officials have become necessary for needle exchange programs. This legislation requires proof of residency and mandates a one-to-one exchange of used syringes for new ones, along with the provision of additional harm reduction services.
In line with these requirements, the LIGHT Program has distributed over 900 wound care kits and employs a nurse practitioner weekly to assist participants with wound care and other medical needs. The program also facilitates testing for bloodborne illnesses, including Hepatitis C and HIV. Jones highlighted the importance of these screenings, noting that out of approximately 25 tested for Hepatitis C, five returned positive results. Importantly, she stated, “As far as we are aware, Morgantown and Mon County have not yet had an HIV case related to IV drug use.”
While the program promotes treatment, Jones emphasized that coercion is ineffective. She remarked that 184 new intakes in the past year had previously undergone treatment, underscoring the reality that recovery often requires multiple attempts. “Our goal as a harm reduction program is not necessarily to force people into treatment,” she said. “We want to empower individuals to make that decision on their own.”
The effectiveness of the LIGHT Program is reflected in the local overdose rates, which have declined significantly since 2021. Contributing to this positive trend, the program distributed over 3,000 doses of Narcan (Naloxone) in the past year. Milan Puskar Health Right has become a national leader in Narcan distribution, providing more than 22,000 doses over a two-year period.
The letter of support from the council, which was approved, pertains to both Health Right’s current location on Spruce Street and its future site at 10 Scott Avenue. Jones noted that the final step before relocating is obtaining a behavioral health center license from the Office of Health Facilities Licensure. “We can’t see anyone in that facility until we are licensed as a behavioral health center,” she explained. Health Right submitted its application in late October and hopes for a site visit in early December.
As the LIGHT Program continues to evolve, it remains committed to providing essential services to the community, ensuring that individuals have access to the resources needed to support their health and well-being.
