johnboy
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Oct 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,873
UPDATE: .pdfs of most of the presentations added. They have all the exact figures and statistics in them. Well worth the download. Especially Dr Quinn's
Here's my report on the symposium. I will be adding links to the recordings, as well as elaborating on specific parts as I remember things, or anyone asks specific questions.
I was invited to attend by Paul Dillon, to represent a user group as well as to introduce the activities of Enlighten, and Bluelight, to the conventional harm reduction world.
8.15 am REGISTRATION
Only just made this as my flight was cancelled. Went up to the desk and introduced myself. They couldn't find a name tag for me and asked suspiciously if I had registered. "Er no, I'm giving a presentation". So I had to write out my own badge, and I wrote "Enlighten Pill Testing Guy" on it.
9.00 am Introduction and Opening Address – Professor Richard Mattick
While he was talking I was trying to subtly set up the mini-disc.
• New drugs, new risks: the current state of play in Australia - Mr Paul Dillon .pdf here
An overview of where we are at today and how things have change. I'll be putting up the file of this as soon as possible as it is most pertinent to us. Paul actually says that the reality is that MDMA is a "relatively benign substance" and the dangers have been blown totally out of proportion by the media. I refer to this, and his comments that this has turned most people away from the media, in my talk.
• Party drug use in NSW – the results of the 2002 IDRS Party Drug Trends - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
Basically running through the results of this survey.
• Party drugs – the New South Wales Police perspective - Superintendent Frank Hansen .pdf here
Umm I don't actually remember much about this. The usual mix of commitment to harm reduction mixed with a strong commitment to supply reduction.
10.30 am MORNING TEA
This is when I got grabbed by Bernadette from JJJ to do those sound bites. This meant not only did I miss out on the yummy cakes but I also missed the beginning of...
11.00 am SESSION 2 – Dr Jan Copeland, CHAIR
• Ecstasy: patterns of use and harms in Australia - Ms Bridget Barker .pdf here
I'll have to listen to the recording of this myself.
• What is actually in your ecstasy? - Dr Cate Quinn, Manager Drug Branch, Victoria Forensic Science Centre .pdf here
Fascinating. Not so much because it was anything we didn't already know but more that was exactly what we suspected and completely contrary to what has been released to the media.
Dr Quinn was one of only two people to refuse to allow me to put her talk up on the net, although she did allow me to talk about it.
The trends with pills are much as we have observed; increasingly high amount of pills containing MDxx, dropping rates of amphetamine and a leveling amount of ketamine pills. Of those pills that contain MDMA 84% don't contain anything else, 7% contain amphetamine, 4% contain ketamine and 1% contain other minor stimulants like caffeine and ephedrine. This means that only 4% of pills contain nothing or dangerous chemicals. (the above figures refer to pills seized and analyzed within Victoria)
This is very important for our work, as we can infer from this that a purple/black test will 84% of the time not be masking anything else. Of course we still need to worry about the unknown and can never be complacent but it is still encouraging.
It was also stressed that much of the danger with pills comes from the left over chemicals, or by products of, the clandestine manufacturing process.
Dr Quinn also introduced the new State and Federal Pill Testing Database and discussed it's implementation. The screenshot looked hilariously like pillreports. I had to laugh, especially as later on I'd be showing an actual shot of pillreports and it would be obvious to everyone.
During the question section I asked whether harm reduction groups would be allowed access to the database. She replied that applications would have to be made and I would be welcome to make one. We'll see how that goes
• Ketamine: patterns of use and harms associated with non-medical ketamine use - Mr Paul Dillon .pdf here
Interesting summary of a project NDARC has just completed. Recording up soon.
• Crystal: is it a passing fad? - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
Another study by NDARC. Again you'll have to wait for the recording.
12.30 pm LUNCH
Me, I was too nervous to eat but the food looked good. Caught up with the guys from AIVIL and discussed the Meth Injectors project I've been helping them with. Might be asking here for people who would like to contribute to a survey.
1.30 pm SESSION 3 – Dr Rebecca McKetin, CHAIR
• GHB: characteristics of users, use patterns and associated harms - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
This was the study that many of us Bluelighters were involved in.
.wma file here (2.8 meg file)
• GHB, predatory drugs and the Attack of the Clones - Dr David Caldicott, Emergency Registrar
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Fascinating and very honest description of G use in Adelaide as well as national and international trends. I will shortly be putting up the recording but I have had to bleep it a few times as he mentions the names of a few suppliers, and to post it here intact would be a violation of BLUA. I've emailed him about this and he has agreed.
• Drug facilitated sexual assault – can toxicological screening prove it? - Dr John Lewis, Head of the Toxicology Unit, Pacific Laboratory Medicine Services
This guy was a no-bullshit scientist who very quickly cut thru the crap surrounding this controversial topic.
3.00 pm AFTERNOON TEA
Spent the whole thing nervously pacing around.
3.30 pm SESSION 4 – Dr Louisa Degenhardt, CHAIR
• Party drug emergencies: what is happening and how should we respond? - Dr Gordian Fulde, Head of Accident and Emergency, St Vincent’s Hospital
This would have to have been the oddest presentation by far. It began with a video of a sketch from Not The Nine O'clock News, and was interspersed with seemingly random Larson cartoons. That said Dr Fulde is a guy who knows his shit. He presented a summary of the types of incidents that St Vincent’s has to deal with on a daily basis. I will try to put up the recording but Dr Fulde asked to be able to listen to it first.
• Adulterants testing in Australia: a grass roots initiative - Mr John Davidson, Enlighten
.wma file here (5 meg file)
.mp3 file here (6 meg file)
lame Powerpoint presentation here (500k file)
Transcript of the questions at the end:
• Harm reduction: a nightclub response to party drugs - Mr Tim Waugh, C-Moog Nightclub .pdf here
Tim used to be the manager of Home in Sydney. His talk outlined the security and harm reduction methods they initiated at Home, and talked about the realities of the nightclub world. What ever you might think about Home at least they tried. Alas they sold up and left after the third death there. This last death wasn't even an ecstasy related one, the girl succumbed to a mixture of anti-depressants, used recreationally.
(please let me know if any links are dead)
Here's my report on the symposium. I will be adding links to the recordings, as well as elaborating on specific parts as I remember things, or anyone asks specific questions.
I was invited to attend by Paul Dillon, to represent a user group as well as to introduce the activities of Enlighten, and Bluelight, to the conventional harm reduction world.
8.15 am REGISTRATION
Only just made this as my flight was cancelled. Went up to the desk and introduced myself. They couldn't find a name tag for me and asked suspiciously if I had registered. "Er no, I'm giving a presentation". So I had to write out my own badge, and I wrote "Enlighten Pill Testing Guy" on it.
9.00 am Introduction and Opening Address – Professor Richard Mattick
While he was talking I was trying to subtly set up the mini-disc.
• New drugs, new risks: the current state of play in Australia - Mr Paul Dillon .pdf here
An overview of where we are at today and how things have change. I'll be putting up the file of this as soon as possible as it is most pertinent to us. Paul actually says that the reality is that MDMA is a "relatively benign substance" and the dangers have been blown totally out of proportion by the media. I refer to this, and his comments that this has turned most people away from the media, in my talk.
• Party drug use in NSW – the results of the 2002 IDRS Party Drug Trends - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
Basically running through the results of this survey.
• Party drugs – the New South Wales Police perspective - Superintendent Frank Hansen .pdf here
Umm I don't actually remember much about this. The usual mix of commitment to harm reduction mixed with a strong commitment to supply reduction.
10.30 am MORNING TEA
This is when I got grabbed by Bernadette from JJJ to do those sound bites. This meant not only did I miss out on the yummy cakes but I also missed the beginning of...
11.00 am SESSION 2 – Dr Jan Copeland, CHAIR
• Ecstasy: patterns of use and harms in Australia - Ms Bridget Barker .pdf here
I'll have to listen to the recording of this myself.
• What is actually in your ecstasy? - Dr Cate Quinn, Manager Drug Branch, Victoria Forensic Science Centre .pdf here
Fascinating. Not so much because it was anything we didn't already know but more that was exactly what we suspected and completely contrary to what has been released to the media.
Dr Quinn was one of only two people to refuse to allow me to put her talk up on the net, although she did allow me to talk about it.
The trends with pills are much as we have observed; increasingly high amount of pills containing MDxx, dropping rates of amphetamine and a leveling amount of ketamine pills. Of those pills that contain MDMA 84% don't contain anything else, 7% contain amphetamine, 4% contain ketamine and 1% contain other minor stimulants like caffeine and ephedrine. This means that only 4% of pills contain nothing or dangerous chemicals. (the above figures refer to pills seized and analyzed within Victoria)
This is very important for our work, as we can infer from this that a purple/black test will 84% of the time not be masking anything else. Of course we still need to worry about the unknown and can never be complacent but it is still encouraging.
It was also stressed that much of the danger with pills comes from the left over chemicals, or by products of, the clandestine manufacturing process.
Dr Quinn also introduced the new State and Federal Pill Testing Database and discussed it's implementation. The screenshot looked hilariously like pillreports. I had to laugh, especially as later on I'd be showing an actual shot of pillreports and it would be obvious to everyone.
During the question section I asked whether harm reduction groups would be allowed access to the database. She replied that applications would have to be made and I would be welcome to make one. We'll see how that goes
• Ketamine: patterns of use and harms associated with non-medical ketamine use - Mr Paul Dillon .pdf here
Interesting summary of a project NDARC has just completed. Recording up soon.
• Crystal: is it a passing fad? - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
Another study by NDARC. Again you'll have to wait for the recording.
12.30 pm LUNCH
Me, I was too nervous to eat but the food looked good. Caught up with the guys from AIVIL and discussed the Meth Injectors project I've been helping them with. Might be asking here for people who would like to contribute to a survey.
1.30 pm SESSION 3 – Dr Rebecca McKetin, CHAIR
• GHB: characteristics of users, use patterns and associated harms - Dr Louisa Degenhardt .pdf here
This was the study that many of us Bluelighters were involved in.
.wma file here (2.8 meg file)
• GHB, predatory drugs and the Attack of the Clones - Dr David Caldicott, Emergency Registrar
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Fascinating and very honest description of G use in Adelaide as well as national and international trends. I will shortly be putting up the recording but I have had to bleep it a few times as he mentions the names of a few suppliers, and to post it here intact would be a violation of BLUA. I've emailed him about this and he has agreed.
• Drug facilitated sexual assault – can toxicological screening prove it? - Dr John Lewis, Head of the Toxicology Unit, Pacific Laboratory Medicine Services
This guy was a no-bullshit scientist who very quickly cut thru the crap surrounding this controversial topic.
3.00 pm AFTERNOON TEA
Spent the whole thing nervously pacing around.
3.30 pm SESSION 4 – Dr Louisa Degenhardt, CHAIR
• Party drug emergencies: what is happening and how should we respond? - Dr Gordian Fulde, Head of Accident and Emergency, St Vincent’s Hospital
This would have to have been the oddest presentation by far. It began with a video of a sketch from Not The Nine O'clock News, and was interspersed with seemingly random Larson cartoons. That said Dr Fulde is a guy who knows his shit. He presented a summary of the types of incidents that St Vincent’s has to deal with on a daily basis. I will try to put up the recording but Dr Fulde asked to be able to listen to it first.
• Adulterants testing in Australia: a grass roots initiative - Mr John Davidson, Enlighten
.wma file here (5 meg file)
.mp3 file here (6 meg file)
lame Powerpoint presentation here (500k file)
Transcript of the questions at the end:
• Harm reduction: a nightclub response to party drugs - Mr Tim Waugh, C-Moog Nightclub .pdf here
Tim used to be the manager of Home in Sydney. His talk outlined the security and harm reduction methods they initiated at Home, and talked about the realities of the nightclub world. What ever you might think about Home at least they tried. Alas they sold up and left after the third death there. This last death wasn't even an ecstasy related one, the girl succumbed to a mixture of anti-depressants, used recreationally.
(please let me know if any links are dead)
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