Cambodia
1. Cambodia Human Rights
Cambodians who use drugs confound the notion that drug dependence is a self-inflicted
condition that results from a character disorder or moral failing. When Human Rights Watch
talked with these people, they were invariably softly spoken and polite. They talked openly
and honestly about difficult childhoods (in many cases still underway) living on the streets,
or growing up in refugee camps in Thailand. Often young and poorly educated, they spoke of
using drugs for extended periods of time. Despite many hardships in their lives, their voices
rarely became bitter except when describing their arrest and detention in government drug
detention centers. They did not mince words when describing these places. One former
detainee, Kakada, was particularly succinct: “I think this is not a rehab center but a torturing
center.”
2. Group impugns proposed drug-control law
P ROPOSED legislation aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's drug control law could also allow staffers in rehabilitation centres to commit human rights abuses with “total impunity” and give authorities sweeping powers of detention, critics warned Thursday.
3. Treatment or Punishment?
The glossy brochure from Cambodia's national drugs authority is reassuring. Drug use causes social instability and blocks national development, it explains, but the ultimate solution is to encourage people who use drugs to seek support. Friends and family must "avoid discrimination, intolerance and violence" toward people who use drugs and help them ''find the necessary services for people to stop using drugs''.
India
4. Timing of Initiation of Antiretroviral Drugs during Tuberculosis Therapy
Background The rates of death are high among patients with coinfection with tuberculosis and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The optimal timing for the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in relation to tuberculosis therapy remains controversial.
Malaysia
5. Harm reduction project injects new life
THE implementation of the Harm Reduction Programme through Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Needle Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) has shown positive results, with many kicking drug addiction and leading a quality life. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says the success of the two programmes reflect the spirit of smart partnership and commitment between the government and private and non-governmental organisations in reducing the number of Malaysians hooked on dadah.
Thailand
6. Building Resource Mobilization Capacity in Thailand
In these challenging times, NGO managers and fundraisers are under more pressure than ever to diversify their funding sources. This training hopes to address this challenge in the area of resource mobilization by building the capacity in Thailand of a network of participating NGOs and fundraisers through training - with a specific focus on institutional funders. The aim of the training course is to provide practical knowledge, adapted to reflect the reality in Thailand, to the attendees on key issues affecting resource mobilization. The curriculum, exercises, and case studies will be specific to the Thai context and based on a capacity gap analysis and feedback from potential participants. The course is ideally suited to fundraising professionals who want to build their capacity; executive directors/NGO managers responsible for donor relations; and consultants who want to develop their professional skills.
7. Hepatitis C (HCV) interventions and the Global Fund
In Bali, you recognized the scope and problem of HCV infection among people who inject drugs and the need to make accessible and affordable diagnostics and treatment available. We ask you now to urgently follow up on our discussions during the meeting by issuing a statement from the Global Fund Secretariat, and officially provide inspiration by writing to all CCMs, clarifying that HCV testing and treatment may and should be included in proposals to the GFATM.
Outside Asia
8. [UK] Can't Treat Our Way Out of the Epidemic
It's been a bad few months for HIV prevention. We've learned that our
best candidates for vaccines and virus-killing microbicides don't
work. Now we're clutching at another straw: maybe we can treat our way
out of the HIV epidemic.
9. [UK] Guide for NGOs attending the CND
This guide has been prepared by the IDPC to provide logistical and practical information to
NGO and civil society participants attending the meetings of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
(CND) in Vienna.
10. [US] TNI/WOLA (Embargoed): INCB Oversteps Mandate in Criticizing Decriminalization
The UN's International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report released today pointedly criticizes Argentina, Brazil and Mexico for moving to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal consumption, cautioning that such moves may "send the wrong message." The INCB report expresses concern over "the growing movement to decriminalize the possession of controlled drugs" and calls for this movement to be "resolutely countered" by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
11. [US] TNI/WOLA (Embargoed): INCB Oversteps Mandate in Criticizing Decriminalization
This study examined the impact of prison-initiated methadone maintenance at
12 months postrelease. Males with preincarceration heroin dependence (N =
204) were randomly assigned to (a) Counseling Only: counseling in prison,
with passive referral to treatment upon release; (b) Counseling + Transfer:
counseling in prison with transfer to methadone maintenance treatment upon
release; and (c) Counseling + Methadone: counseling and methadone
maintenance in prison, continued in the community upon release. The mean
number of days in community-based drug abuse treatment were, respectively,
Counseling Only, 23.1; Counseling + Transfer, 91.3; and Counseling +
Methadone, 166.0 (p < .01); all pairwise comparisons were statistically
significant (all ps < .01). Counseling + Methadone participants were also
significantly less likely than participants in each of the other two groups
to be opioid-positive or cocaine-positive according to urine drug testing.
These results support the effectiveness of prison-initiated methadone for
males in the United States. Further study is required to confirm the
findings for women.
Read more >>

The AHRN newsletters are available in PDF format. Reading the electronic version of the newsletter requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
AHRN Newsletter No. 46 - Full version (2.94 MB)

Cover Story
A Long Walk Ahead for Asian Women

Feature
Preparing for AIDS2010 – An Interview with Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman
Drug Use and HIV Among MSM and TG in Asia-Pacific
Bold Steps Needed in Cambodia

Advocacy
Reflections on the Politics of Harm Reduction and the Global Response to HIV
World AIDS Day Messages 1 December 2009

Programme
Harm Reduction Scale-Up in Thailand

Policy
Drug Policy Perspectives

Inside AHRN
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Unit (TACB)
Gender in the Context of Harm Reduction: Moving Ahead to Practice

Conferences
Outcomes and Highlights – The 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
Reflection from the 2009 Harm Reduction Conference in Bangkok

And much much more!!

Taiwan (R.O.C) Showcasing Asian Leadership on Harm Reduction
Description : An AHRN VDO Production with support from Alphawood Foundation (Chicago)
Language : english

In My Backyard: Dispelling Myths About Methadone
Description : This film highlights the patients, staff and services of a methadone maintenance treatment clinic operating since 1974 in a church building in the heart of residential and commercial Greenwich Village, NYC.
Language : english

Waiting for a Legal Shot
Description : Denmark is about to start prescribing heroin for those opiate addicts, who did not benefit from any kind of other treatment forms. The HCLU's video advocacy team went to investigate. For more information visit our website at: www.drogriporter.hu/en/l

Language : english