Pilot Study of a Peer-Driven Injection Setting Intervention to Prevent HIV, Hepatitis C, and Overdose Among People Who Inject Drugs in Baltimore

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a pilot intervention aimed at reducing HIV and hepatitis C virus HCV transmission, as well as overdose risk behaviors, among people who inject drugs PWID. The study uses a peer-driven approach targeting semi-public injection settings SPIS to promote safer practices. This intervention is grounded in social influence, social network, and social cognitive theories, focusing on improving communication and peer education to change social norms around risk behaviors. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving behavioral training with six sessions that include peer education and stocking of SPIS with risk reduction materials, and the other receiving an attention control standard care. The intervention seeks to increase conversations about prevention and the availability of naloxone and other risk reduction materials in injection settings to reduce sharing of injection equipment and overdose risks. During the study, 120 index PWID participants will be selected based on their use of SPIS. Their involvement includes participation in the training sessions or control activities, with researchers monitoring overdose prevention and HIVHCV prevention outcomes over six months. Assessments will include measures of overdose behaviors and related risk factors to evaluate how well the intervention influences these outcomes over time.

A Setting Focus Overdose Prevention Intervention