Medical Student Research Forum Posters

In 2022, San Joaquin County had approximately 2,319 unhoused/unsheltered individuals, with 66% residing in Stockton. Studies have found that approximately 75% of unhoused individuals reported drug use of any kind and 12% reported opioid use. Additionally, drug overdosedeaths increased in the United States by more than 30% from 2019 to 2020. Transmission rates of infections associated with injection drug use have also been increasing. Harm reduction services, including syringe exchange and naloxone distribution, have been shown toreduce the rates of disease transmission and drug overdose death within communities.

In 2016, the rate of drug-induced deaths was 56% higher in San Joaquin County than the California state average. Developed in July 2020, The Stockton Harm ReductionProgram (SHRP) provides sterile syringes and injection equipment, condoms, naloxone, hygiene products, and referrals for health and housing services to people in San Joaquin County. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a mobile harm reduction program on usage of sterilesyringes and naloxone by program participants.