HRV News Feed January – March 2014

URGENT APPEAL: 
Health and human rights crisis imminent 
for opiate substitution therapy clients in the Crimea

” Since highways into Crimea are blocked by armed men, medicines supply is impossible (narcotic drugs must be attended by an armed police squad).”  — Alliance Ukraine 

As has been widely reported, the Crimean peninsula, previously an autonomous region of Ukraine has been unilaterally annexed by the Russian Federation in defiance of international law. The aspect of this crisis that most concerns us  is the situation that will be faced by the more than eight hundred clients of Crimean opiate substitution programmes should the region become subject to the current legislative framework of the Russian Federation which includes the outlawing of opiate substitution therapy.

Indeed, on 20th March 2014, Mr. Ivanov, the head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service, the ministry responsible for drug policy in the Russian Federation announced his intention to close the opiate substitution therapy programmes as his first priority.

Read More on this article

INPUD Press Statement

Drug Users Plan to Flee Crimea as Russia Blocks Harm Reduction Programs

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AIDS activists, including people living with HIV, people living with HCV, people who inject drugs (PWID), and their allies, are fighting for access to a new generation of HCV drugs-called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). These drugs offer the potential to eradicate HCV; they have cured up to 100 percent of people in clinical trials.

All of the companies refused to commit to price reductions that would allow affordable access for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), home to more than 85 percent of the 185 million people living with HCV. Even Roche and Merck, producers of older, soon-to-be-obsolete HCV drugs, refused to lower prices to affordable levels.

In high-income countries, DAA treatment costs US$140,000, although DAAs are cheap to produce. According to an analysis by academic experts, it costs less than US$250 for a 12-week DAA regimen.[1] “This level of greed is inexcusable, and keeps the cure out of reach for almost everyone who needs these drugs,” says Shiba Phurailatpam, regional coordinator of the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+).

Read INPUD Press Release Here

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“Too cool to do drugs” pencils withdrawn

This is an oldie, but definately a goodie..

A company recalled a batch of pencils after a fourth-grade student pointed out an embarrassing message that appeared after he sharpened his pencil.

The pencils carried the slogan ”Too Cool to Do Drugs.” But the student noticed that when the pencils are sharpened and get shorter, the message becomes ”Cool to Do Drugs,” then simply ”Do Drugs.”

Read More

Meth Mouth and Other Meth Myths

Alberto Gonzales, George W. Bush’s attorney general, called it ”the most dangerous drug in America.” A physician quoted by The New York Times described it as “the most malignant, addictive drug known to mankind.”

Columbia neuropsychopharmacologist Carl Hart co-authors a new report that aims to separate fact from fiction on the subject of methamphetamine. ”The data show that many of the immediate and long-term harmful effects caused by methamphetamine use have been greatly exaggerated,” Hart et al. write, “just as the dangers of crack cocaine were overstated nearly three decades ago.”

 The Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome Study

Please consider taking part in The Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome Study being conducted at Bond University that will support work that may benefit people whose lives are affected by viral hepatitis.
The study is open to individuals preparing for hepatitis C treatment and participants are being sought from Australia or New Zealand. Information provided is completely confidential and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

Information Flyer
The Hepatitis C Treatment Outcome Study – Bond University

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Harm Reduction Victoria were proud to be a part of the  20th annual Gay & Lesbian Pride March 2014.

Pride March is an open air celebration culminating in a march down Fitzroy Street and finishing with performances on the foreshore. Pride March is to express courage, solidarity, pride, diversity and a strong sense of community.

We are proud to present the most recent issue of Whack for your reading pleasure. Now Online & in Full Colour!

Featuring articles on such topics as: Krokadil, GHB, naloxone, art therapy & harm reduction, “Breaking the Taboo”, the plight of older users in Australia, an interview with Charles Shaw, outreach in New York & an article by Shane Levene.

Bloody Serious Facts!

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Harm Reduction Victoria, Hepatitis Victoria & St Vincents Hospital present Bloody Serious Facts! Hepatitis C Workshop. This workshop is designed for drug and alcohol workers, nurses, NSP workers, community health staff, students of health professions, prison staff, welfare workers and anyone else working with people who are at risk of or affected by hepatitis C.

Veiw Flyer.

                

© Harm Reduction Victoria 2013