Transcript Evolving Harm Reduction Through Peer Education

John Campbell
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Changes in recreational drug use
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The internet and forums as a source of
information
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Opportunities for engagement
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How it could work in practice
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Early 90’s = E, acid, speed and jellies (poppers)
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Mid 90’s =E, acid, speed, alcohol (heroin?)
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Late 90’s = cocaine, alcohol, E and blues
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Mid 00’s = cocaine, alcohol, E, blues and legals
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2010 = Cocaine, alcohol, E, blues, advanced
legals and research chemicals
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Buying drugs
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Selling drugs
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Researching drugs
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Discussing effects and sharing experiences
different people want different things
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What will sell
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What is profitable
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How available it is
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What form to bring to market
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What’s available
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What it costs
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How and how much to take
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What to expect
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Interactions
How will they get this information?
“an information hub of high standards and a
platform where people can freely discuss
recreational drugs in a mature manner” Drugs
Forum
www.drugsforum.com
www.partyvibe.com
www.bluelight.ru
Additional sites for PIEDs
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RC = research chemical
LH = legal high
IL = illegal legal
Bomb = swallow in a cigarette paper
Bump = small pile for snorting
Plug = rectal administration
Rail = intravenous injection
SWIM = someone who isn't me
AFOAF = a friend of a friend
TR = trip report
“Well, severe nausea, vomiting, anxiety and
hallucinations, this does really fit with mdpv”
“The third version of ivory wave (red packaging)
seems to be even more of a problem than the
previous ones”
“It will be interesting to know if this is caused by
MDPV”
“MDPV must still be the most likely culprit”
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Normalises risky drug taking
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Not all advice given is good
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Encourages experimentation
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Gives a false sense of security
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No guarantee forum members are of age
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A massive group of current users
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Prepared to share experiences and knowledge
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Opportunity to skill the workforce
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A chance to share harm reduction information
Ivory wave scenario
Forum
members/drug
users
Forum
Administrator
Questions to
professionals
Health
Respected
drug
Information
services
Questions
from
professionals
Police, government
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Why do you think this is happening?
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Any change in cutting agents?
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Realistic alternatives to injecting?
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Review of information materials
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Online dissemination of materials
Final thought
Facebook was launched in February 2004
it now has more than 500 million active
users