A unanimous vote, the Springfield Public Health Council has declared a health emergency because of the opioid crisis and will create a needle exchange program in order to save lives.
Users will be able to bring used needle to a program site and get clean needles in exchange.
Officials say that the opioid epidemic has been on the rise since the 1970s and is spiking again.
Officials expect to make serious inroads in the overdose rates in the city.
(Photo Credit DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images)