NEWS: The AGE - 09/10/07 'Cash for safe drug injection 'off mark''

[hoptis]

I should have expressed my thinking more clearly as I was rushed typing that.

I guess my thinking is that in light of the recent attention on taxpayer-funded harm minimisation in this country from the outcome of Bishop's inquiry this is bad timing for this issue to make the news.

It's certainly not an expression of disapproval for peer education and at least the spirit of it that is behind this program, but viewed from the public's eyes, there is a pretty big difference between Ravesafe volunteers giving advice at a dance party and IV drug users sitting down to teach others safe injecting techniques.

While we may understand both are driven by the same idea, most of the public will not. I'm glad to hear that Bligh is going to stand by this program for the time being, but it just seems like unfortunate timing to see it in the news.

 

[juice_soldier]

^^Actually, i participated in something like this in melbourne. When i was in a refuge in St. Kilda. The actors were real junkies/ex junkies - shooting up saline solution, We were all paid and fed as were the actors - who did the workshop in the form of a play which was really quite interesting.

Thats some of the things we have here in melbourne...

 

[Flexistentialist]

While we may understand both are driven by the same idea, most of the public will not. I'm glad to hear that Bligh is going to stand by this program for the time being, but it just seems like unfortunate timing to see it in the news.

This is true. The Liberal member for Currumbin has been waging a campaign against QuIHN because the needle and syringe program moved into her neighbourhood last year. She is shit stirring because none of her scaremongering bullshit has actually come to pass, and she's becoming increasingly desperate to make QuIHN look bad.

 

[Splatt]

QuIHNs not going anywhere. She can come see me there as of next week if she wants and voice her opinion

 

[Tronica]

Peer education is absolutely vital, especially when it comes to something like safer injecting techniques. Something it's difficult to advertise the programs effectively so the right people know they are there, whilst at the same time keep it under wraps enough not to reach mainstream media, who clearly don't get it.

This sort of thing happens every now and again... I remember Victoria's Whack magazine being picked up by the media here a few years back, and the threat of funding removal was made - thankfully it didn't eventuate.

I commend these programs for continuing to operate even in this hostile climate. I do also hope they are as careful as they can be about the way they present themselves - and remember how easy it is for their program materials to end up in the media and criticised in this way.

On the other hand, what are they going to change about them? They should continue to offer cash - this is expertise in the form of drug experience which should be acknowledged. They need to make the programs in a way that makes people want to attend them - eg. having food, cash, a party or social event. Yet these are the things that infuriate the mainstream media/public. Not an easy situation to resolve!

 

[lil angel15]

I'm sorry you think that way. The problem is in the ill-informed media representation, not with the strategy. Organisations such as QuIHN are funded through state and federal government all over Australia to provide peer education programs such as the one mentioned in the Courier-Mail article. Similar programs are run all over the world. It is normal to pay people for their time in these instances - particularly when there is an expectation of future unpaid work - passing on safer using info to others.

People will quite happily exchange information with their peers without expecting a payment at the time - do you get paid for your role at Bluelight? It is normal human behaviour. Training people as peer educators is a way of ensuring that the best possible information gets distributed.

And TT watchers won't understand - but don't worry - they also don't understand needle syringe programs, or Bluelight for that matter...

It appears we’re reading the same book, but when it’s being put into words, something is being lost in translation. I fully support peer education programs and believe they are a vital tool in the HR repertoire. The problem with this particular program is that the media got hold of it, moulded it for its own purposes and spat it out calling it news. Additionally, the use of pamphlets to advertise the program in the way they did could have done with a little more thought in the knowledge that the media would have a field day with it. As long as scare tactics, rather than education, are used to inform the public about drug use and its associated problems - generally through TT - programs like these are going to continue fighting an uphill battle.

In answer to your question though – No, I don’t get paid for my time on Bluelight. The difference between Bluelight staff and a members of the IV community is that the majority, if not all, BL staff share a genuine interest in HR. I’m not saying for a minute that many IV users don’t possess an interest in HR, but I do believe compensation is vital in the sustainability of these programs. I agree that it’s ‘normal human behaviour’ to pass on information to our peers, but I would think the most important aspect of these programs is that the correct information is being passed on. To ensure this happens, peer educator training needs to occur, which would generally require compensation – wouldn’t you agree???

 

[ayjay]

Tony Abbott at it again...

ABC Online

The World Today - Abbott redfaced over Qld drugs program

[This is the print version of story
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s2055707.htm]


The World Today - Wednesday, 10 October , 2007 12:34:00
Reporter: Nicole Butler

PETER CAVE: The Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has been left red-faced over his department's involvement in a controversial drugs programme in Queensland.

The 'Mix Up Project' on the Gold Coast offers cash and food to intravenous drug users who teach others how to inject safely.

On radio this morning Mr Abbott said he wasn't aware his department was helping to fund the scheme - and what's more, the Minister said he utterly disapproved of it.

Nicole Butler reports from Queensland.

NICOLE BUTLER: The Mix Up programme being run on Queensland's Gold Coast offers food and $110 cash to drug users who teach others how to safely inject.

The scheme has expectedly drawn widespread opposition.

Jann Stuckey from the State Opposition argues it coaches would-be addicts and rewards illegal drug users.

JANN STUCKEY: To pay drug addicts in this manner, knowing that the $110 will almost certainly be their next hit, is grossly irresponsible.

NICOLE BUTLER: But the controversial programme is funded by both the State and Federal Governments. Naturally that indicates the scheme has their support.

But during an ABC Queensland radio interview this morning, the Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott's reaction made it clear he knew nothing about it.

RADIO PRESENTER: Tony Abbott, just before you go - an issue that has developed in the last 24 hours here in Queensland is, is whether drug addicts should be given cash and free food for teaching other drug users how to safely inject drugs, and...

(Tony Abbott laughs)

NICOLE BUTLER: So after laughing when he was told about the project, Mr Abbott admitted he wasn't aware of it, nor did he know that his department helps to fund the scheme. And the Minister made it perfectly clear that he disapproves of it.

TONY ABBOTT: Well I don't think there's any safe way to use illicit drugs, and anything that explicitly encourages people to use illicit drugs, I have grave reservations about. So instinctively, I think it sounds like a terrible idea.

NICOLE BUTLER: Mr Abbott was also quick to add that he'll now review his department's involvement in the drugs programme.

TONY ABBOTT: Because the Federal Government has a tough on drugs approach, we would like to see zero tolerance of illicit drug use. We understand that some people will always break the law, but there should be no official encouragement or condoning of it whatsoever.

NICOLE BUTLER: The Mix Up project is being run by the Queensland Injectors Health Network. General manager of QuIHN, Geoff Manu is astounded by the Federal Health Minister's comments.

GEOFF MANU: You know, obviously very disappointed to hear that he has withdrawn support of a program that he already knew about, or some of his department should have known about. I mean, it's not as if we haven't been filing reports to the department and they've been going through to the Commonwealth.

NICOLE BUTLER: And Mr Manu has fiercely defended the scheme and its role in protecting the entire community.

GEOFF MANU: It's a programme that's targetted at infection control throughout the injecting community. Statistical data that's come out has been that they're the highest rate of the community that are at risk of the spread of blood-borne viruses.

Now, drug users just don't associate with each other, but they also mix in the broader community. So the, I suppose the fear is that, you know, that there could be a pandemic or an epidemic of Hep-C and HIV that could come and hit the community.

NICOLE BUTLER: I guess the whole issue has generated this amount of controversy because you pay addicts $110 to teach other users how to safely inject. Why are you doing that?

GEOFF MANU: As an organisation, we, we believe in the philosophy of peer education, so where we train other people that are engaged in this activity to spread this information about safety, safe disposal, etc, to their peers.

Now we as an organisation work with a group of people that are engaged in illegal activity and therefore don't access many services, health, mainstream services, and even our own services. So therefore, to get these messages out to the broader injecting population or drug using population, we need to use other methods that are, you know I suppose quite innovative.

NICOLE BUTLER: Mr Manu admits most people probably find the whole Mix Up concept quite shocking. He blames that on the Federal and State Governments for failing to educate Australians about the real benefits of harm minimisation.

Mr Manu says without cutting-edge projects like Mix Up, the drug problem in Australia will only get worse.

PETER CAVE: Nicole Butler with that report.

 

[ayjay]

It appears we’re reading the same book, but when it’s being put into words, something is being lost in translation. I fully support peer education programs and believe they are a vital tool in the HR repertoire. The problem with this particular program is that the media got hold of it, moulded it for its own purposes and spat it out calling it news. Additionally, the use of pamphlets to advertise the program in the way they did could have done with a little more thought in the knowledge that the media would have a field day with it. As long as scare tactics, rather than education, are used to inform the public about drug use and its associated problems - generally through TT - programs like these are going to continue fighting an uphill battle.

In answer to your question though – No, I don’t get paid for my time on Bluelight. The difference between Bluelight staff and a members of the IV community is that the majority, if not all, BL staff share a genuine interest in HR. I’m not saying for a minute that many IV users don’t possess an interest in HR, but I do believe compensation is vital in the sustainability of these programs. I agree that it’s ‘normal human behaviour’ to pass on information to our peers, but I would think the most important aspect of these programs is that the correct information is being passed on. To ensure this happens, peer educator training needs to occur, which would generally require compensation – wouldn’t you agree???

Yes - that's right - compensation for the training, with the expectation of unpaid education from those trained to their peers. I was responding to your statement

an IV drug user isn’t going to teach someone these practices without some type of compensation

- so yeah I misunderstood you I think.

As far as promotional material for the program - these flyers weren't intended for the general public, but unfortunately occasionally such material does fall into the wrong hands - witness Tronica's post above for a great example. It would be wrong, IMO, to suggest that any error had been made by the QuIHN crew in promoting and running their peer ed workshops. Unfortunately it's just a risk that comes with the territory in this field - ya gotta roll with the punches and expect no back up from the politicians - who are happy enough to fund HR programs (because they know they work), but don't want to talk about it because it's not politically expedient...