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HIV/AIDS Programs

HIV/AIDS prevention provides the Double Jeopardy Project using recovering substance abusers trained in HIV prevention to provide peer education to alcoholics and addicts in treatment programs in Lexington and Richland Counties. Participants receive information on relapse prevention and learn skills to prevent them from remaining at risk for contracting the HIV virus. The presentations dispel the myths of how HIV is transmitted and gives factual information about the disease and how to protect one from contracting it. Presentations are often made on Hepatitis C (HCV) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Presentations are also available to community groups, churches and other institutions in the area. LRADAC staff members are available to train professionals and other members of the community.

LRADAC collaborates with other agencies and organizations on World AIDS Day, National Testing Day, the statewide South Carolina HIV/STD Conference, DHEC, DAODAS and the Midlands HIV Prevention Collaboration.

Peer educator outreach is the main focus of this project. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to reach substance abusers while they are using. One approach that does work well is to bring prevention information to them while they are in a detoxification facility, an inpatient or outpatient treatment program or other group setting for those with substance abuse problems. These clients often have very short attention spans due to the detoxification process and/or medications they may be taking. They may also be dealing with numerous changes in their lives that make it difficult to concentrate on technical, medical language and presenters who lecture to them. The majority of alcoholics and addicts have major issues with trust when they are newly clean and sober. For this reason the project uses recovering substance abusers who are active in recovery and trained in making HIV prevention presentations that actively involve the participants and are extremely candid and non-judgmental.