August 27, 2009

Ex-Drug Dealers Now Sell HIV Prevention in DC

A Washington, DC-based nonprofit program has recruited former drug dealers as HIV counselors in an effort to reach areas within the nation’s capital that are disproportionately affected by the virus, The Washington Post reports.

According to the article, since the recruiting program’s start in October, the Community Education Group (CEG) has trained about 20 men and women, most of whom have criminal records, to offer HIV outreach prevention in DC’s wards 7 and 8, which have the city’s highest infection rates of 2.8 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

“The same rapport you had with people you were selling drugs to, that’s the same skill set you use to sell HIV and AIDS prevention,” said Terrance Young, manager of testing and field operations. “The people skills you developed from [selling drugs] apply here.”

A. Toni Young, executive director of CEG, said that through the 11-month program, workers have distributed 100,000 condoms, tested 2,000 residents of wards 7 and 8, and referred more than 100 people for substance abuse care and treatment.

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