New Haven Oral History Project: Mark Kinzly

Summary Description

Born and raised in New York City, Mark Kinzly is the child of drug addicted parents, and a former alcoholic and drug abuser himself. He came to New Haven in 1984, and spent the next five or six years attempting to get clean. He describes the drug scene in New Haven, and explains why crack cocaine proved so devastating to the African American community. Kinzly discusses the correlation between illness (particularly Hepatitis and HIV) and intravenous drug use, and describes the birth of the needle exchange program in New Haven in 1990. Starting as a grassroots effort, a number of health workers and addiction advocates began the program to offer addicts clean needles in order to curb the spread of infections. In 1991, Kinzly hit rock bottom and managed to get clean. After doing so, he began to volunteer at the New Haven needle exchange program. Kinzly describes his experiences working in the needle exchange van, and lists some of the reasons for the success of the New Haven program, as well as the challenges faced by needle exchange nationwide. Interviewer: Lu, Tiffany Length (min): 63

Category Tags

Harm Reduction and Substance Use; Activism and Advocacy; Disease

New Haven Neighborhood

New Haven (All)

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