Former Heroin User Breaks the Cycle to Prevent New Injecting Drug Users

The project is part of the Government of Vietnam's comprehensive HIV prevention program, which promotes safer behaviors across the country. A recent study estimated HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDU) in Quang Ninh at 56%, highlighting the need to prevent heroin users from injecting in the first place. Dam Quang Truong, a peer educator in Quang Ninh, plays a crucial role in the Break the Cycle project. Truong, a former heroin user himself, quit injecting drugs in 1998 and now works to prevent others from starting. He speaks to injecting drug users about how their behavior encourages others to start injecting heroin. People who inhale and inject heroin often do so together, and when inhalers see other IDU inject in their presence or hear them talking about injecting, they are often motivated to try it themselves. Truong's experience as a former heroin user has given him a unique understanding of the issue. He notes that new injectors usually need to ask another IDU for help with their first injection, and that most IDU regret their decision to start injecting. However, they are often unaware of how their own behavior is instrumental in motivating others to start injecting. Truong's work with the Break the Cycle project aims to change this dynamic by educating IDU about the risks of injecting and encouraging them to adopt safer behaviors. The Break the Cycle project is implemented by Population Services International (PSI) and is funded by USAID. The project provides a package of technical assistance to its partners, including training and monitoring of outreach tools and materials. Truong's work as a peer educator is part of a comprehensive response to HIV in Vietnam, which targets most at-risk population groups, including sex workers and their male clients, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men. Truong's experience as a peer educator has been successful, with many IDU agreeing not to help an inhaler switch to injecting after meeting with him a few times. His confidence in his work has grown since receiving training, and he is now able to effectively communicate the risks of injecting to his peers. The Break the Cycle project's focus on targeting existing drug users and educating them about safer behaviors has the potential to make a significant impact in reducing HIV transmission in Vietnam.