Project Description

Brick Rebuilding is a harm reduction-based prevention intervention model that transforms the knowledge given to Black and Latino adolescents (aged 14-18), who live in a disadvantaged socioeconomic city, Newark, NJ, on substance use and sexual intercourse. The model seeks to transform this knowledge by providing adolescents with the tools to make responsible choices by: giving them factual science-based information on STIs and potentially harmful substances; reevaluating how addiction and STIs affects a young person’s life; providing a comprehensive understanding of drug policies and the legal consequences of drug use; and emphasizing safety and well-being in situations involving drug use and sexual intercourse in an urban environment. By the end of the prevention intervention, participants will demonstrate (1) behavior change towards drug use and unprotected sex to have safety as a priority in maintaining well-being (2) an increased knowledge and application of safe sex practices and (3) an increased understanding of the effects/impact of substance use, and harm reduction strategies to mitigate dangers of drug use and unprotected sex.