Under the theme, "Warning: Harmful of Fatal if Ignored," the Alliance Healthcare Foundation funded a public information and education campaign on the spread of the infectious diseases hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV in San Diego County, especially among injection drug users. With approximately 25-28,000 injection drug users (IDUs) in the San Diego region, the need for comprehensive harm reduction programs, including clean syringe exchange, is vital. Using a social marketing approach, scientific data were used to develop campaign messages, which were disseminated via billboards, radio spots, print media and through individual briefings of elected officials, community leaders and organizations.
Alliance established a funding partnership with The California Endowment to expand and strengthen a continuum of care for injection drug users. The resulting harm reduction funding initiative partnership earmarked $2.5M over two years for grantmaking specific to the needs of the IDU population.
As a result of the campaign, syringe exchange was one of six leading issues identified during the 2000 local election cycle. In October 2000, the San Diego City Council declared a public health state of emergency and convened a task force to draft a pilot program proposal.
This presentation will describe how a data-driven social marketing campaign combined with a private/public funding partnership resulted in community planning that may lead to changes in health policy and ultimately improve the health of community residents.
See www.alliancehf.orgLearning Objectives:
Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Social Marketing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Alliance Healthcare Foundation
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.