The LIGHT (Living in Good Health Together) harm reduction program, operated by Milan Puskar Health Right, marked its 10-year anniversary this August, showcasing significant achievements in community health and safety. Between October 2024 and September 2025, the program distributed an impressive 235,435 syringes and collected 206,437 used needles, resulting in a return percentage of nearly 88%. This figure aligns well with the program’s goal of maintaining an exchange rate between 85% and 90%.
During this anniversary year, the LIGHT Program accommodated 1,457 total visits from 594 unique visitors, including 195 new intakes from surrounding counties. Specifically, most new participants came from Monongalia County (110), followed by Marion (28), Preston (26), and Harrison (19) counties. The program saw an increase in both syringe distribution and visitor numbers, compared to the previous year, when it provided 186,580 syringes and received 79% of those returned.
Laura Jones, Executive Director of Milan Puskar Health Right, provided a program update to the Morgantown City Council this week while also seeking a letter of support for its continued operation. Following the 2021 passage of SB334 by the West Virginia Legislature, annual letters from local government entities have become a requirement for needle exchange programs. The law mandates that these programs demonstrate proof of residency and ensure a one-to-one exchange of used syringes for new ones, as well as provide additional harm reduction services.
In line with these requirements, the LIGHT Program has distributed over 900 wound care kits and has a nurse practitioner available weekly to assist participants with wound care and other medical needs. The program also facilitates testing for bloodborne illnesses such as Hepatitis C and HIV. Jones reported that approximately 25 people were recently tested for Hepatitis C, with five positive results highlighting the importance of these screenings in the community. Notably, as of now, Morgantown and Monongalia County have not recorded any HIV cases related to intravenous drug use, a fact Jones hopes will remain true as the program continues to operate.
While the program encourages treatment, Jones emphasized that pressuring participants into treatment options is counterproductive. She pointed out that 184 of the new intakes had previously been in treatment, underscoring the complex nature of recovery. “We know treatment is not a one and done. It often takes many times before people are successful,” she explained. “Our goal as a harm reduction program is not necessarily to force people into treatment. We believe in empowering individuals to make their own decisions.”
The impact of the LIGHT Program extends beyond syringe exchange, as it has also contributed to a significant reduction in local overdose cases since 2021. While multiple factors contribute to this decline, the distribution of over 3,000 doses of Narcan (Naloxone) through the program in the past year is likely a critical element. Milan Puskar Health Right has gained recognition as a national leader in the distribution of this overdose-reversing medication, having previously provided more than 22,000 doses in a two-year span.
The Morgantown City Council approved a letter of support for Health Right’s current location on Spruce Street and its future home at 10 Scott Avenue. Jones explained that the final hurdle before relocating is obtaining a visit and 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 stated, sharing that Health Right submitted its application in late October. “I hope that their visit will happen sometime in early December.”
As the LIGHT Program continues to evolve and adapt to community needs, it stands as a testament to the importance of harm reduction strategies in addressing public health challenges.
