WalkaboutMibrane
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2003
- Messages
- 7
A Snapshot of "Nat Snapshot on HepC T'mission Risks Among Inj. Psychostimulant Users
The national peak-body for drug user organisations - the Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League - have now released our report with the (perhaps slightly wordy) National Snapshot of Hepatitis C Transmission Risks Amnost Injecting Psychostimulant Users. Firstly, and to echo our acknowledgements page at the start of the report, a big thank you to Johnboy for participating in our advisory committee.
While in the end funding (both amount and our agreements with federal health) and research analysis constraints forced us to look specififcally at issues for psychostimulant injectors, the input of PS users who choose other Methods of Admin were very important.
This research project was very important for several reasons. Firstly, it was only the second major national research project in this country(the first being AIVL's look into issues surrounding the disposal of injecting equipment) to be (i) drug user-designed, and specifically utilising an advisory committee consisting of a majority of PS users; (ii) utilise peer-researchers who had to fulfill the same criteria for qualification and those we wanted to research; and [iii] the first really in-depth analysis of not just what we are doing but how we are doing it.
Further, unlike many research bodies and researchers who are either producing reports out of habit, at government request, or for the advancement of their own careers, the research was created to enable drug users to develop better education and support programs for our own communities - not to give non-users an opportunity for voyeurism by peering into our lives as if we're the fucken Myer Christmas windows.
OK - so what did we do.
Criteria for inclusion (researchers and researchees):
(i) over 18 years of age
(ii) injected using methamphetamine at least once per month in last six months
Demographics
Number of injectors interviewed = 182 (24 from each of ACT, NSW, QLD, Vic, NT, SA, WA and 14 from Tassie)
Gender = 49.5% male, 49.5% female, 1% (2 participants) transgendered
Sexual preference (self-defined)= 65.9% hetero (but undoubtedly not straight!) 17.6% bi, 6.6% gay male, 3.8% lesbian, 2.2% specifying another description (queer being one of these "titles".)
Accomadation type = Almost 2/3 - 63.7% - lived in either private rental - 47.8% - or Government rental/ housing commission - 15.9%. 14.2% were effectively without secure living arrangements (if not technically homeless) according to bureaucratic definitions - either squatting, crashing on mates couches, or actually without places to sleep.
.... Lots more to come. In the meantime, get yourself a full copy of the report from your state-user org, or email [email protected]
The national peak-body for drug user organisations - the Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League - have now released our report with the (perhaps slightly wordy) National Snapshot of Hepatitis C Transmission Risks Amnost Injecting Psychostimulant Users. Firstly, and to echo our acknowledgements page at the start of the report, a big thank you to Johnboy for participating in our advisory committee.
While in the end funding (both amount and our agreements with federal health) and research analysis constraints forced us to look specififcally at issues for psychostimulant injectors, the input of PS users who choose other Methods of Admin were very important.
This research project was very important for several reasons. Firstly, it was only the second major national research project in this country(the first being AIVL's look into issues surrounding the disposal of injecting equipment) to be (i) drug user-designed, and specifically utilising an advisory committee consisting of a majority of PS users; (ii) utilise peer-researchers who had to fulfill the same criteria for qualification and those we wanted to research; and [iii] the first really in-depth analysis of not just what we are doing but how we are doing it.
Further, unlike many research bodies and researchers who are either producing reports out of habit, at government request, or for the advancement of their own careers, the research was created to enable drug users to develop better education and support programs for our own communities - not to give non-users an opportunity for voyeurism by peering into our lives as if we're the fucken Myer Christmas windows.
OK - so what did we do.
Criteria for inclusion (researchers and researchees):
(i) over 18 years of age
(ii) injected using methamphetamine at least once per month in last six months
Demographics
Number of injectors interviewed = 182 (24 from each of ACT, NSW, QLD, Vic, NT, SA, WA and 14 from Tassie)
Gender = 49.5% male, 49.5% female, 1% (2 participants) transgendered
Sexual preference (self-defined)= 65.9% hetero (but undoubtedly not straight!) 17.6% bi, 6.6% gay male, 3.8% lesbian, 2.2% specifying another description (queer being one of these "titles".)
Accomadation type = Almost 2/3 - 63.7% - lived in either private rental - 47.8% - or Government rental/ housing commission - 15.9%. 14.2% were effectively without secure living arrangements (if not technically homeless) according to bureaucratic definitions - either squatting, crashing on mates couches, or actually without places to sleep.
.... Lots more to come. In the meantime, get yourself a full copy of the report from your state-user org, or email [email protected]
