India
1. New drug use trend and HIV/AIDS Vertical transmission to Horizontal transmission on the brink
The 2 nd State Specific Harm Reduction Meet 2009 organised by North East India Harm Reduction Network, NEIHRN was held today, (30 October) at the Conference Hall, SASO, (Social Awareness Service Organisation) Imphal, Manipur, on the 30 th October 2009.
Outside Asia
2. [AU] Red Ribbon Award 2010 - call for nominations
The call for nominations for the 2010 Red Ribbon Award is now open. As in
the past, the award honors and recognizes exceptional grassroots leadership
in responding to the AIDS epidemic. Nominations are accepted from December
1st, 2009 until February 28th, 2010.
3. [AU] [ANPUD] AIVL International Drug Users Daye Media Release
The national peak organisation representing people who use illicit drugs, the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), is joining with communities of people who use illicit drugs from around the world to celebrate International Drug Users Day on 1 November 2009.
4. [CA] Canadian appellate court upholds ruling in favour of Vancouver's supervised injection facility
Today, the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling from last year that granted Vancouver's supervised injection facility an ongoing exemption from certain provisions of Canada's drug laws (prohibiting possession and trafficking of controlled substances) and that also declared those provisions of Canada's law constitutionally invalid insofar as they apply to the users and site operators of Insite. The current federal government, which opposes Insite's existence, is expected to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
5. [UK] International Conference "Harm Reduction: The Next Generation"
This conference will present an opportunity to look back over the last twenty-five years and more and reflect on the successes and challenges that we have faced, in order to move forward with new knowledge and renewed commitment.
6. [US] Call for papers: Children of the Drug War
The war on drugs has had a devastating impact on the lives of children and young people all over the world. Young people have been excluded from school and excluded from healthcare services. They have experienced the loss of a parent or loved one due to HIV/AIDS or overdose. They have grown up with a primary caregiver incarcerated for minor drug offences. They have been incarcerated themselves or coerced into closed treatment centres. They have seen their communities uprooted due to crop eradication programmes or drug fuelled conflict to become statistics of human displacement. They have been forced into the drug trade and brutalised by organised criminals. The impacts of the drug war on children and young people are extensive and right in front of us. They are neither hidden nor trivial, but they are often ignored, and the perspectives of young people rarely taken into account.

1. India - New drug use trend and HIV/AIDS Vertical transmission to Horizontal transmission on the brink

By Namaram Kishalaya (Dodo) and the NEIHRN team

IMPHAL, 30 October 2009 : The 2 nd State Specific Harm Reduction Meet 2009 organised by North East India Harm Reduction Network, NEIHRN was held today, (30 October) at the Conference Hall, SASO, (Social Awareness Service Organisation) Imphal, Manipur, on the 30 th October 2009.

The meeting was organized as part of “strengthening the network” in the region to address the issues concerning the lives of people living and suffering from incurable diseases. A minute of silence was observed in paying tribute to the founder NEIHRN members who passed away since its inception in the year 2002.

The meeting unanimously agreed to address the current “crisis situation” issue in the state to the United Nations Regional Task Force, UNRTF and invite the Response Team to visit the state and witness the overall state of affairs first hand. The delegates pointed out that due to frequent bandhs, strikes and curfew, patients who require medicine on a daily basis to survive and manage life are being denied including harm reduction services and hence are at fatal risk.

Emergence of poppy plantation in various border districts of Manipur and consumption of new and raw forms of drugs, such as injection of tincture opium and methamphetamines, available in different forms poses a grave risk of being used widely in the region and other districts of the state.

The meeting resolved to initiate in advocating for a State Drug Policy in the state and further to amend the existing State AIDS Policy to bridge the gaps and advocate for inclusion of effective harm reduction services.

The current State AIDS Policy, which is to be amended and in its draft form will be published very soon and hence the immediate need to incorporate the harm reduction strategies. The need to publish a policy brief has been emphasized since the formation of a new State Drug policy would take time, considering the need to respond to the current and prevailing issues.

The process and criteria of acquiring 2 nd line Anti Retroviral Therapy, ART for patients on 1 st line is not patient friendly, the delegates pointed out and said that the current guidelines issued by National AIDS Control Organisation, NACO has been a barrier when in need.

The un-affordability of Hepatitis – C treatment in the region is discussed as a “Crisis Situation” which needs to be responded immediately, since a lot of patient are dying helplessly even though on strict adherence to ART. Non-availability of life saving drugs and lack of overdose management medicines has been pointed out by delegates from different districts including Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Imphal East and West.

Harm reduction approach targets only some specific populations, where the 2 nd line of transmission is on the brink. It was also discussed that the “vertical transmission” or “inherited-transmission” transmitted from their parents is now the bridge to transmit for another “horizontal transmission” or a new - third generation, where cases of such transmission has been documented in the reputed hospitals in Manipur. “What do we have now to address this issue?” The delegates questioned, as the current harm reduction services doesn't cover this population and further added, whether we should wait for the agencies and the policymakers to address these issues.

During the meet, the delegates suggested that NEIHRN should initiate to advocate the works on a non-negotiable minimum service of delivery system and to organized social audit fair, where all vouchers and cash books etc. are displayed.

Earlier, the general secretary of NEIHRN, N Kishalaya introduced and briefed about NEIHRN as a conglomerate of institutions and individuals working in the field of drug use and HIV/AIDS with specific focus to Harm Reduction approach. Acknowledging SASO, MNP+, SHALOM (Manipur & Mizoram), VHAM (Meghalaya & Arunachal Pradesh), Lifeline Foundation, Kripa Society, Kripa Foundation - (Nagaland and Manipur), Wide Angle, LRRC, ECHEMA, CHAN-Mizoram, Impulse Network-Meghalaya, Aids Prevention Society-Assam, Bethesda Youth Centre-Nagaland, Care Foundation and Sikkim Rehab Centre for their support in initiating and sustaining the network, he admitted that NEIHRN was only able to provide a platform to share news and information through their e-group –NEIHRNers and hopefully to create a synergy in addressing issues concerning adverse consequences.

Presenting on the achievements of the network, Mr Ronny, the treasurer of NEIHRN marked the recognition of NEIHRN at the regional, national and international level, including the works done with support from Family Health International, FHI, Catholic Relief Service, CRS and the State Aids Control Society, SACs in the past years.

NEIHRN would be focusing more on the weaker states, like Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, in terms of Harm Reduction approach, Ronny said and added that a regional advocacy workshop, and three newsletter would also be publish under this micro grant supported by UNAIDS. He also stretched on two and a half years of NEIHRN's experience when the funds were withdrawn and NEIHRN was to start from scrap, having nothing at all literally. He extends his gratitude to UNAIDS for supporting NEIHRN in rectifying the network again.

Altogether 20 participants from different districts of Manipur and representatives of various institutions and individual attended the state specific meet. It may be recalled, NEIHRN conducted their 1 st State specific Harm Reduction Meet for Nagaland at Dimapur on 23 October. NEIHRN currently has 40 members from across the eight NE states of India and has a member of 17 board members.

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2. [AU] Red Ribbon Award 2010 - call for nominations

The call for nominations for the 2010 Red Ribbon Award is now open. As in
the past, the award honors and recognizes exceptional grassroots leadership
in responding to the AIDS epidemic. Nominations are accepted from December
1st, 2009 until February 28th, 2010.

This international award will honor exceptional grassroots leadership in
responding to the AIDS epidemic and will be presented at the XVIII
International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) to be held in Vienna, Austria,
July 18 â?" 23, 2010.

Once again, twenty-five community organizations will be selected through a
community-led process for their exceptional contribution in addressing HIV.
The winners will be invited to attend AIDS 2010 where they will have an
opportunity to showcase their work and engage global policy leaders. All 25
community organisations will receive $5,000 each. Five organisations will
receive special recognition and an additional $15,000.

The award is a joint effort of the UNAIDS family and as such this year it
will place particular emphasis on the organizationâ?Ts newly approved global
priority areas of action. In this context, this yearâ?~s award will be given
to organisations whose work places particular emphasis on the following
categories:

· Ensure that that people living with HIV receive treatment
· Support HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes for
people who use drugs
· Remove punitive policies and laws, stigma and discrimination
that block effective AIDS responses and marginalize key populations (men
who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers and prisoners)
· Stop violence against women and girls and promote gender
equality
· Enhance social support for those affected by HIV, including
orphans and vulnerable children

In line with the global efforts to support cross-sectoral strategies that
address HIV as well as other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a special
recognition Award will be presented to an organization whose cross-cutting
approach jointly addresses AIDS and the MDGs at the community level.

More information can be found on www.redribbonaward.org

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3. [AU] [ANPUD] AIVL International Drug Users Daye Media Release

AUSTRALIAN INJECTING & ILLICIT DRUG USERS LEAGUE: MEDIA RELEASE
DRUG USERS SAY: “WE ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY”

The national peak organisation representing people who use illicit drugs, the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), is joining with communities of people who use illicit drugs from around the world to celebrate International Drug Users Day on 1 November 2009.

In celebrating this day we are speaking as people who use illicit drugs to tell the world that we are valuable members of the community, who come from all walks of life and are people who care about the world we live in. We are proud of our survival in a climate that criminalises, demonises and stigmatises all people who use illicit drugs as worthless, selfish, criminals.

Annie Madden, AIVL Executive Officer stated “We are not a small and insignificant group of people; we are your family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, in short, we are part of your community. We deserve equitable access to health services, civil and human rights and same respect and opportunities afforded all members of Australian society.”

We live with the constant grief of losing loved ones due to overdose and diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Love ones whose lives could have been saved had we removed the criminalisation of drug use and provided access to an expanded range of drug treatments now available in many countries around the world. As a community we have fought hard for our right to access drug treatments that are accessible, affordable and meet our needs.

On International Drug Users Day 2009 AIVL is calling for an expansion to the range of treatment options available including heroin prescription programs and injectable methadone, buprenorphine and morphine. “The international evidence is indisputable in relation to the efficacy of these programs. Numerous evaluations have now shown that providing injectable pharmacotherapy programs has improved people's health, their social and living conditions, their ability to participate in study and employment and reduced crime.” Ms Madden added.

AIVL believes one of the most important aspects of these programs is that they save lives. Australian and international studies have shown that people who access drug treatment programs are significantly more protected from dying due to a drug-related overdose than those not in pharmacotherapy treatment. One Australian study has shown that; one in 100 people using heroin on the street die from overdose compared with one overdose death for every 485 people for those on a methadone pharmacotherapy program.

“Australian drug users deserve access to programs that protect their lives and should be given the opportunity to choose from the widest possible evidence-based drug treatment options in order to get the best ‘treatment fit'. Furthermore, we want these choices now, not as a last option when we have hit so-called ‘rock bottom'. Being able to engage in a drug treatment option of our choice, that suits our needs, should not have to come at the price of our lives being in devastation before we are offered or become eligible for these programs” stressed Ms Madden.

Too often heroin prescription programs are talked about only as an option of ‘last resort'. AIVL is concerned that we are thinking about heroin prescription in the wrong way. It should be offered alongside other treatment options for anyone seeking to manage an opioid dependency. “We believe we should have access to the full range of treatment options available, anything less is an infringement upon our human rights and potentially exposes many people to discrimination, criminalisation, disease and death simply because we have refused to heed the now overwhelming evidence supporting such programs” Ms Madden concluded.

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4. [CA] Canadian appellate court upholds ruling in favour of Vancouver's supervised injection facility

Today, the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling from last year that granted Vancouver's supervised injection facility an ongoing exemption from certain provisions of Canada's drug laws (prohibiting possession and trafficking of controlled substances) and that also declared those provisions of Canada's law constitutionally invalid insofar as they apply to the users and site operators of Insite. The current federal government, which opposes Insite's existence, is expected to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

See: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/court+rules+Vancouver+Insite+safe+injection+site+stay+open/2446233/story.html

=============================================================================================

VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed a federal government appeal, which means InSite, the Vancouver supervised safe-injection site that was the first of its kind in Canada, will remain open.

The federal government is expected to appeal Friday's split 2-1 ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson reacted by saying he strongly supports the ruling and the continued operation of InSite to improve the lives of drug addicts.

"With this second consecutive decision in favour of InSite, I hope the federal government will drop its legal efforts so that we can go back to focusing on InSite for what it is -- a harm reduction facility that saves lives and improves health outcomes for those living with addictions," the mayor said in a statement.

Former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen also praised the ruling and predicted similar safe-injection sites will appear in other Canadian cities.

"We're going to have half a dozen of these across the country," he told a cheering crowd of Insite supporters gathered outside the Vancouver Law Courts.

"It improves public health and improves public order," said the former mayor, an original supporter of a safe-injection site for drug addicts in order to reduce overdose deaths caused by intravenous drug use and the spread of AIDS and other infectious diseases.

InSite was originally allowed to operate under a temporary exemption to federal drug control laws. When the temporary exemption was due to expire, the facility went to the B.C. Supreme Court and won a permanent exemption.

Dr. Julio Montaner, president of the International AIDS Society, called Friday's court ruling "a tremendous victory for us involved in the Downtown Eastside. It sends a very clear message to [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper and his draconian policies."

Vancouver East MP Libby Davies told the rally that federal government should not waste further time and money on an appeal.

"They need to think about common sense here," she said.

InSite opened in 2003 in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside under a temporary exemption from national drug laws.

The exemption was extended twice and was scheduled to end in 2008, but a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that InSite should remain open because it provided a needed medical service.

The federal health minister and attorney general of Canada appealed that decision.

In Friday's appeal court ruling, two judges of the three-judge panel ruled against the federal government.

The decision was greeted with applause from InSite supporters crowded in the normally staid courtroom, where Chief Justice Lance Finch read a summary of the ruling.

The court also found that "The supervision of drug injection comes within the province's powers over health under Section 92 of the Constitution Act, 1867, and the province has exercised those powers in a number of statutes related to the operation of InSite. As a result, the provincial and federal exercises of power overlap."

The lengthy court judgment is available online at:

http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/CA/10/00/2010BCCA0015.htm

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5. [UK] International Conference "Harm Reduction: The Next Generation"

The International Harm Reduction Association
presents its
21st International Conference

‘Harm Reduction: The Next Generation'

Liverpool, UK
April 25-29, 2010

The Conference theme - The Next Generation - will be reflected throughout the conference programme and will embody:

• Young People – who are both directly and indirectly affected by drug use around the world and must be engaged in the global harm reduction and drug policy dialogue.

• New Populations – including regions such as Africa and Latin America, which have often been overlooked by harm reduction advocates and policies.

• New Interventions – including the need to address non-injecting substance use, and to move beyond a focus on opiates and develop effective responses for stimulant users and emerging drugs and trends.

• New Challenges – including the need to improve global resourcing for harm reduction, and to improve quality as well as coverage around the world

This conference will present an opportunity to look back over the last twenty-five years and more and reflect on the successes and challenges that we have faced, in order to move forward with new knowledge and renewed commitment.

Register immediately! Delegate Fees will rise after 21 January

Full information at http://www.ihra.net/Liverpool/Home /

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6. [US] Call for papers: Children of the Drug War

The war on drugs has had a devastating impact on the lives of children and young people all over the world. Young people have been excluded from school and excluded from healthcare services. They have experienced the loss of a parent or loved one due to HIV/AIDS or overdose. They have grown up with a primary caregiver incarcerated for minor drug offences. They have been incarcerated themselves or coerced into closed treatment centres. They have seen their communities uprooted due to crop eradication programmes or drug fuelled conflict to become statistics of human displacement. They have been forced into the drug trade and brutalised by organised criminals. The impacts of the drug war on children and young people are extensive and right in front of us. They are neither hidden nor trivial, but they are often ignored, and the perspectives of young people rarely taken into account.

This compilation of essays presents an opportunity to bring these many issues together. It is intended as a discussion piece to highlight the impacts of the war on drugs from the perspectives of children and young people and to promote a greater focus on children and young people in drug policies, nationally and internationally.

The editor is looking for original, well-written and engaging essays. They may be based on existing research, interviews, personal experiences or they may be more narrative or journalistic in style. Contributions based on the work of NGOs or youth services are also welcome. Topics may range from broad policy analyses to case studies and may cover any aspect of the war on drugs so long as the focus is on the perspectives of, or impacts on, children and young people.

All papers must be submitted in English. The style is up to the individual contributor and should be described in the proposal. Those
with more original subject matter and/or approach will be preferred. A mix of styles will be included in the final publication.
The proposal should be no more than 500 words. The final paper should be between 5,000 and 8,000 words. There is some flexibility in the final length, which may depend on subject matter or approach adopted.

The deadline is Friday 29th January 2010. Send proposals to childrenofthedrugwar@googlemail.com .

See also: http://www.idpc.net/alerts/call-for-papers-children-of-the-drug-war

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