Offering Syringes Along With Prayers, Churches Help IV Drug Users

James Sizemore, pastor of Radiant Church in Fayetteville, N.C., went from president of his high school’s “Just Say No" club to a cocaine mule. Once free of drugs, he found his way back to the pulpit. (Taylor Sisk for KHN)

When Gov. Pat McCrory signed legislation in July legalizing syringe exchange programs in North Carolina, James Sizemore rejoiced.

The pastor of a small church, Sizemore had — with the tacit approval of some, but not all, local law enforcement — been offering clean syringes to drug users to help them avoid contracting HIV and hepatitis C. Now he could do so without fear of arrest.

Read the full article available at khn.org.