PreventionWorks! PreventionWorks!

Harm Reduction in the Nation’s Harm Reduction in the Nation’s CapitalCapital

2501 Benning Rd. NE2501 Benning Rd. NEWashington, DC 20002Washington, DC 20002

202.588.5580202.588.5580www.preventionworksdc.orgwww.preventionworksdc.org

Service Learning TeamService Learning Team

Georgetown University StudentsGeorgetown University Students– Erin DohertyErin Doherty– John HawesJohn Hawes– Allison BoydAllison Boyd– Natasha LloydNatasha Lloyd– Megan BarberMegan Barber– Matt ScrivenMatt Scriven– Shenelle-Marie WiseShenelle-Marie Wise– Ellen StolleEllen Stolle

Faculty Team LeaderFaculty Team Leader– Mary Beth Levin, Associate ProfessorMary Beth Levin, Associate Professor

Community PartnersCommunity Partners– Junette McWilliams, Director of ProgramsJunette McWilliams, Director of Programs– Reggie Jackson, Mobile Unit Team LeaderReggie Jackson, Mobile Unit Team Leader

Mission of Mission of PreventionWorks! PreventionWorks!

Curbing the spread of HIV and other blood-borne Curbing the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among: diseases among:

– injection and other drug usersinjection and other drug users– their sexual partnerstheir sexual partners– newborn childrennewborn children

Focus on Focus on harm reduction harm reduction - a way to improve and - a way to improve and save lives by providing support for positive save lives by providing support for positive change in a respectful and non-judgmental change in a respectful and non-judgmental environmentenvironment

History of History of PreventionWorks!PreventionWorks!

19981998 – Officially authorized as provider of needle – Officially authorized as provider of needle exchange services in DC; private fundingexchange services in DC; private funding

1998-20071998-2007 – DC only US city where tax dollars – DC only US city where tax dollars banned from supporting needle exchangebanned from supporting needle exchange

20072007 – Congress removes ban on federal funding – Congress removes ban on federal funding for needle-exchange programsfor needle-exchange programs

20082008 – DC Mayor Adrian Fenty allocates $300,000 – DC Mayor Adrian Fenty allocates $300,000 of public funding to of public funding to PreventionWorks!PreventionWorks!

HIV/AIDS Issues in DCHIV/AIDS Issues in DC

DC has highest rate of new AIDS cases in countryDC has highest rate of new AIDS cases in country– 128 per 100,000 compared to 14 per 100,000 nationally128 per 100,000 compared to 14 per 100,000 nationally

1 in 20 DC residents is HIV positive1 in 20 DC residents is HIV positive

1 in 7 African-American males is infected1 in 7 African-American males is infected

1/3 of AIDS cases in the US can be traced to injection 1/3 of AIDS cases in the US can be traced to injection drug usedrug use

30% of new AIDS cases can be connected to a re-used 30% of new AIDS cases can be connected to a re-used needleneedle

Community ServicesCommunity Services

Mobile Outreach Unit-Syringe Exchange ProgramMobile Outreach Unit-Syringe Exchange Program

– Exchange syringes with registered participantsExchange syringes with registered participants

– Provide harm reduction tools, HIV testing, education, food, Provide harm reduction tools, HIV testing, education, food,

clothingclothing

Wrap-Around ServicesWrap-Around Services

– Drug treatment referralsDrug treatment referrals

– Condom distribution and safe sex information-educationCondom distribution and safe sex information-education

– Overdose preventionOverdose prevention

– Support groupsSupport groups

– HIV testing/counseling/prevention educationHIV testing/counseling/prevention education

– Hepatitis C and STI referrals for testing/prevention educationHepatitis C and STI referrals for testing/prevention education

Community AudienceCommunity Audience

Our RolesOur Roles

Behind the scenes:Behind the scenes:

– Received training to volunteer on vanReceived training to volunteer on van

– Made safe sex and wound care kitsMade safe sex and wound care kits

On the mobile van:On the mobile van:– Logged clients into computer – name, date of birth, Logged clients into computer – name, date of birth,

syringes exchanged and received, other services usedsyringes exchanged and received, other services used– Set up supplies for exchange, asked clients what they Set up supplies for exchange, asked clients what they

needed, filled bags with suppliesneeded, filled bags with supplies

– Gave out food and/or condomsGave out food and/or condoms

– Interacted with community we were servingInteracted with community we were serving

Other ProjectsOther Projects Water Drive (Ellen and Natasha)Water Drive (Ellen and Natasha)

– Clean water is needed by injection drug users to both prevent Clean water is needed by injection drug users to both prevent dehydration and decrease the risk of disease transmission through dehydration and decrease the risk of disease transmission through contaminated watercontaminated water

– Goal of project is to collect bottled water through donations and Goal of project is to collect bottled water through donations and fundraisingfundraising

Wound Care (Matt and Shenelle-Marie)Wound Care (Matt and Shenelle-Marie)– One-page harm reduction flyer listing sterile injection techniques, One-page harm reduction flyer listing sterile injection techniques,

symptoms of infections, and conditions requiring medical treatmentsymptoms of infections, and conditions requiring medical treatment– Purpose of this year’s project to provide flyer to clients, get their Purpose of this year’s project to provide flyer to clients, get their

feedback, and develop a final versionfeedback, and develop a final version

Medical Mapping (Megan and Allison)Medical Mapping (Megan and Allison)

– Resource listing health clinics, locations, insurance information, etc.Resource listing health clinics, locations, insurance information, etc.– Purpose of this year’s project to provide flyer to clients, get their Purpose of this year’s project to provide flyer to clients, get their

feedback, and develop a final versionfeedback, and develop a final version

Lessons and ReflectionsLessons and Reflections

Learned from clients and Learned from clients and PreventionWorks! PreventionWorks! employees:employees:

– life as an injection drug userlife as an injection drug user– homelessnesshomelessness– living with HIV/AIDSliving with HIV/AIDS– affects on familiesaffects on families

Larger context of drug use (economics, social factors, Larger context of drug use (economics, social factors, etc.)etc.)

Real world application of medical knowledgeReal world application of medical knowledge

Challenging assumptions - is needle exchange Challenging assumptions - is needle exchange enabling?enabling?