Safety Counts

Safety Counts is a prevention intervention that deals with out-of-treatment active drug-using clients (injection and non-injection).This intervention is aimed at reducing the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) through both high risk-drug use and sexual behavior. It is a behavior focused seven-session intervention, which includes both structured and unstructured psycho-educational activities in group and individual settings.

Core Elements:

• Group Sessions: identify client’s HIV risk and current stage of change, hear risk reduction short stories, set personal goals, identify first steps to reduce HIV and HCV risk and make referrals to counseling and testing along with medical/social services
• Individual Counseling Sessions: discuss and refine risk-reduction goals, assess client’s needs, and provide needed referrals to counseling and testing and medical/social support
• Social Events: share a meal and socialize, participate in a planned HIV risk-reduction activity and receive reinforcement for personal risk-reduction
• Follow-up Contacts: review client’s progress in achieving risk-reduction goal, discuss barriers encountered, identify concrete next step and discuss possible barriers/solutions and make medical/social referrals
• HIV and HCV Counseling and Testing: offer the client this service either through referrals or at the implementing agency