Roanoke’s new drop-in center opens on Williamson Road
ROANOKE, Va. – A controversial new drop-in center is up and running in the Star City. There's already a drop-in center downtown, but this serves the north end of the city. Roanoke's Council of Community Services is running the center, which will offer free HIV and Hepatitis-C testing. "This is a way for people to at least avoid other diseases such as Hepatitis-C and HIV. Click here to learn more about Drop-In Center North.
Roanoke center offering off-site needle exchange program will open, despite pushback
ROANOKE, Va. – Opponents of a center offering a controversial needle exchange program took their concerns to Roanoke City Council on Monday, just one week before the new center is set to open. Opponents of the center are asking city council to slow down the process or relocate the center. It will also be where people sign up for the new needle exchange program. The new, separate location, which is the Drop-In Center North, would solely register people for the needle exchange program, and not actually distribute or exchange needles. Both parties agree about the benefits of the needle exchange program, but they still don’t see eye-to-eye on the long term effects.