The Allegheny County Board of Health has decided to draft a regulation to allow the continuation -- and ensure accountability -- of a local needle exchange program.

For the past two years, a private organization, Prevention Point Pittsburgh, has operated it as a pilot program, authorized by the health board's declaration of a "public health emergency."

The program aims to slow the spread of infections like HIV and hepatitis by providing intravenous drug users with clean needles.

The health department last month conducted three public hearings regarding the program. Most people who testified supported its continuation.

The yet-to-be-drafted regulation, discussed at Wednesday's health board meeting, would have to go through another public comment period and would have to be approved by County Council and Chief Executive Dan Onorato, said health department spokesman Guillermo Cole.

"I'm pretty optimistic that we're going to get support both from the board of health and County Council," said Renee Cox, executive director of Prevention Point. "It's kind of been a slow process, but we're trying to cooperate as best we can."

Tim Curges, the health department's acting chief of the sexually transmitted diseases program, told the board that 64 of 67 people, or 96 percent, who spoke or sent letters during the recent comment period supported continuation of the needle exchange program.

One dissenter said taxpayer dollars would be better spent on the flu vaccine program, noted Dr. Bruce Dixon, county health director.

"There's been a lot of confusion," he said. "The county does not fund or receive funding for needle exchange. There is no public money involved in this."

He said the health board's role would be to set up the rules under which the program would operate and ensure accountability.

Prevention Point operated underground for seven years before the health board authorized it as a pilot program in 2002. It provides services every Sunday at a site in Oakland with an annual budget of $180,000, Cox said.

In addition to exchanging needles, the program offers HIV and hepatitis testing, case management and treatment referrals. More than 2,000 people have registered to use the services and about 200 participate each week. About half of those tested have been infected with hepatitis C virus, Cox noted.

Some were frustrated that the program didn't acquire more permanent standing at Wednesday's meeting.

"I am sorry that there's at least another two-month delay," said Prevention Point board member Caroline Acker. "It's very difficult for us to raise funds when we don't have secure status, and yet we can only go to the private sector to support this lifesaving work."

"We're struggling to stay alive and to provide services," Cox said. "The demand has completely exceeded our resources."

One board member wondered whether the program would reduce infectious disease transmission at the cost of higher rates of drug use.

"That is an important question and it has been extremely well-studied," Acker said. "The research is clear that needle exchange does not increase drug use."

If anything, she said, it appears to get people into treatment.

In another matter, County Council President Rich Fitzgerald spoke to the board about broadening an ordinance that limits school bus idling to include other diesel-powered vehicles, like trucks.