Prevention Point Pittsburgh

Prevention Point Pittsburgh (PPP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health empowerment services to injection drug users. PPP is deeply rooted in a concern for the well being of not only our clients, but the general health of the entire community. Prevention Point Pittsburgh was founded in 1995 when James Crow and Caroline Acker, along with a handful of dedicated volunteers, began providing needle exchange services once a week on a Hill District street corner to prevent the spread of injection-related blood-borne disease. In April 2002, PPP established a county-authorized needle exchange site in Oakland. Since that time, over 5,000 injection drug users have enrolled into our program for critical prevention services. In addition to needle exchange services, PPP has grown to include comprehensive case management services, assistance to drug treatment, individualized risk-reduction counseling, health education, condom and bleach distribution, overdose prevention with Narcan prescription, and free HIV, Hepatitis C, and syphilis screening in collaboration with the Allegheny County Health Department. PPP's services are authorized by the Allegheny County Board of Health and The Allegheny County Council (Ordinance #3671-08). PPP has two outreach sites located in Oakland and the Hill District.