VIDEO: Voices Vs 'Scripts? Or Time for a Change?

Click on the title above for a video link, produced by BP.

This video gives you a brief rundown on the history of INPUD, the International Network Of People who Use Drugs - and their place in the world's largest harm reduction conference. Getting the world's most committed drug user activists together in one place, 'finances, health issues, and prescriptions permitting, is an international endeavour.

Voices Vs 'Scripts...So what will it be?

INPUD plan to be the meat in the sandwich, taking on the role of ensuring a clear route ahead for some of the most persecuted activists from some of the most heavily policed countries in the world. INPUD aims to make sure that all those who need to attend the worlds largest harm reduction gathering can, without fear of illness or incarceration. Getting the voices of the drug using community, onto an international stage. There should be 'Nothing about us, without us'. Please see blogg below for more information on INPUD.

The UK Crew Take Their Ideas back Home

The UK Crew: What we will be taking back to the UK

Alex: There is a few things but I’ll focus on one thing here and it’s about getting better information to current users about the risks involved in the injecting process and specifically – we know that people have got the message that its risky to share needles and syringes but everything else in the process of cooking up, particularly social cooking up – more than one person, I think we can do better at explaining to people that they are putting themselves at risk by sharing filters, sharing cookers, sharing the flushed water, and the most exciting thing is that we can do it cheaply, it can be user led and it could really have an impact on blood borne viruses in the UK.

Simon: I was struck by the comparisons – the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and all these other agencies and bodies, were basically giving the same message. It was quite remarkable – it was a sort of a byzantine empire, a sort of topsy turvy world in that in very advanced countries like America they have quite a punitive approach yet in extreme Muslim countries such as under Sharia law, they seem to have quite an enlightened harm reduction process. So there isn’t really a hard and fast rule, I think its an idea of public policy, health and the political will, and given the combination of those, much can and could be achieved.




Herman: I just found the conference content has been stimulating, has been thought provoking; themes running through in particular have been the partnerships working at all levels and, understanding the wider global issues surrounding drug misuse.








Oliver; influencing law enforcement policies, practical methods for influencing law enforcement regarding the improvement of harm reduction; examples Ive seen from Burma, China, Vancouver where they employ community action, self ownership and harmonisation of harm reduction and law enforcement aims.
Really good examples of peer education, from china Thailand and Liverpool, use of phased peer ed training programmes, regular knowledge sharing programmes and the International element of the conference which puts into perspective the work that's going on in the UK but its also inspiring to see whats going on in Burma, Iraq, and china are able to achieve under such difficult circumstances and with little resources. Ive also gained a lot of knowledge about what the wider user involvement movement is doing around the world.



Eliot: I think the conference lived up to its title, the conference has come of age in 2 major respects. The first thing is user involvement is beginning to be cross organised on the international front which is a great thing and the 2nd thing is the serious attempt to come to grips with prohibition which has been one of the most important things for me, recognising it as the font of most drug related harms.





Sally: Ive 3 main themes, one is prisons, we really haven't got right harm reduction here and Ive 4 quick things that would be quick and cheap and easy to implement.
The 2nd theme is on user involvement and how much better it is but how much more we have to do in terms of funding and training ourselves in order to get that right across the board in the UK. But my main thing is planning grids, treatment plans under harm reduction and my main points are that we need strategies for sex workers, gay and transgender people, and we need far more needle exchanges particularly in rural areas. The 3rd thing is we need strategies for methamphetamine and crack which is coming (to Cornwall/ South West England) and we are not prepared – (why aren’t condoms in treatment centres?) Strategies for HCV, it shouldn't be a postcode lottery, it should be standardised across the board and it should be available more than once if you need a series of treatments. We have a pandemic and we are just not addressing it.




Sharon: One of my key themes is frameworks of harm reduction for sex workers. Obviously in the UK there is harm reduction for sex workers but i think its quite mainstream and there is such a lot of barriers for women accessing these kinds of services. But looking at the frameworks particularly in countries like Australia, the US from Canada, and how they've been able to bring it all together and kind of have specific harm reduction for sex workers is what I want to bring back to the UK.






Jimi; the main thing that i feel really could be implemented in the UK is to do with refocusing drug testing in our prisons. There has been some examples in Scotland, of refocusing the money spent on drug testing onto support. Minimising the testing, using the remaining drug testing and making it randomised and anonymised, gaining information just to evolve treatment options. Scotland are doing it and I really really hope we follow suit in the rest of the UK.

Rick: The first one is advocacy. Advocacy has come up pretty much all the way through this conference. Advocacy for support, representation, Involvement in care planning, challenging the statutory services on medication issues, access to services, support through legal processes and statutory interventions, challenging discrimination, the list goes on. That links into drug user representation, planning, assessing, implementing service delivery and realistic interventions for once. Peer driven programmes – harm reduction and the empowerment of users to assist in all processes of harm reduction and peer support and peer education and outreach programmes and services.

The 2nd one is HCV, drug users can adhere to ART’s ARBs / treatments we need more awareness and more campaigns and no more exclusion of this group. More support groups are needed as are referrals to counselling and adequate blood works, liver screening etc. Health promotion needs advocacy available. 3rd point – prisons – needs inter grated care pathways and better continuity of care on release, we need NEPs in prisons, condoms, specialist IDU advice and information and peer support advocacy and training programmes. HCV screening, referrals and treatment and care pathways upon release. And specialist services for LGBT/ MSM IDUs, to address transgender needs in every region, their health issues, counselling, to develop programmes and policies that address their current exclusion/obstacles from accessing services. And of course - DATA, better data collection in all aspects of harm reduction.

VIV: My first point is that we need to work much more closely with the EU harm reduction recommendations 2003 which dose state that harm reduction paraphernalia should be widely available in prisons, in rural areas, a lot more mobile NEPs for homeless people and sex worker areas. The 2nd point is working to value health above law enforcement, so working alongside the police in terms of advocacy and training – there was a good quote that you can get over an addiction but you cant get over a conviction. The third one is using user reps to be involved in all public policy making, its worked really well to have both user groups and health professionals working together.

Erin: For the user groups in the UK who are constantly developing and evolving in terms of their strategies and ideas, the opportunity for us to know what is going on with other drug user groups in the rest of the world is essential. There is a great deal we can learn from each other and it is the time now for us to start using our media and IT networks and resources to really start sharing our knowledge and ideas. But more than that, we need to support each others fights in other countries. Every single drug using country where prohibition reigns, has a constant fight and uphill struggle on their hands - and our hands are still soaked in blood. We may forget what is happening is Russia as we fight for our diamorphine scripts while methadone is still illegal for them - we have to remember to support each other and that is part of the reason behind why an international network and resource centre is crucial for our futures.

2nd: We need to reevaluate the Needle exchange in the UK. We need to look closely at what drug users themselves feel they need to learn. Shame and stigma around drug use and in particular, 'self inflicted' injuries, or injuries sustained from injecting or stimulant induced picking, self harming etc, are deeply hidden but widespread and the financial, social and psychological costs of not attempting to deal with these issues in any comprehensive/confidential way at frontline NEPs, is immense. It's time we really shook up NEPs out of their complacency and made them adaptable and useful to drug users, addressing the constantly changing face of the drug scene. We need variety in front line services, not repetition.

And thirdly and just as importantly - we need to do more as a community to challenge stigma and address the relentless bad press and negative public image drug users face on a daily, yearly basis. There is no reason why the NTA and the government cannot support us here. Stigma is at the root of just about every single problem, obstacle and setback drug users across the world face. Ignorance yields prejudice which is behind social exclusion and isolation. We need to let the UK know what work we are doing as a community, we need to have a multi pronged approach in terms of challenging and changing societies attitudes towards drug users. We need to remember our dead, we need to strengthen our networks work with the media and we need to be clever to challenge the prejudice that is killing us. We must never, ever be afraid of direct action when its needed - we have a great deal to learn of the aids and gay rights movements when they were at the height of their persecution. We must never forget what is really going on underneath the multiple facade of drug user victimisation. We must work to change our future, and to make sure its a future we want.

We all had a brilliant time, thank you to everyone, IHRA, the lovely hotel staff and chefs, all the fascinating people who brought their ideas, reasearch and projects to share - and of course the NTA who funded us all to go. Thank you. x

VIDEO LINK: The Polish Situation for the drug using community

VIDEO LINK: CLICK THE TITLE ABOVE:

Maria tells BP about the situation for drug users in Poland. As the IHRA conference was held in Warsaw this year, we felt her story and insight into the drug scene within her country should be heard. Poland are facing many challenges - in particular as you will hear, the transmission of blood borne viruses through their methods of producing 'homemade' heroin, (liquid form) and the severe lack of drug treatment in prison, as well as across the country itself. Respect to all those working in the organsiation 'Liberty' - and the other groups in Poland - and of course, a huge Thanks To Maria, x

Ibogaine

Click the link above which is from the ibogaine website in the UK which takes you directly to a links page which has a rundown of some of the best ibogaine links currently online.

The Ibogaine session in Warsaw was one of the most interesting satellite sessions at the conference, however it was held at a different hotel, and it was funded to appear, I believe, by a different company (not IHRA). Having included ibogaine in our very first issue of Black Poppy magazine after having just stumbled across it at the time, I was intrigued to find out what developments had been occurring with this 'sacrament of iboga' since it really began to take off on the international scene over a decade or so ago.

The meeting was well attended with around 40 people, which included easily the most knowledgable and well known people on Ibogaine that are around today. The speakers included both Howard Lotsof and Dana Beal (two of the world's most committed Ibogaine activists), and many others, including those with Ibogaine clinics, some which were operating illegally or undercover due to inane drug laws. Others were those who had swallowed the 'sacrement of iboga', and were as effusive about their experiences as anyone who found themselves recovered from their addiction, could be.

Another person of interest who attended the days event was UK filmmaker David Graham Scott, who filmed his own heroin detox using Ibogaine as the treatment. His documentary called Detox or Die, which was filmed on the BBC in 2004 was, I believe fascinating (bummer I missed it) and while chatting over lunch he told me that he was still off the gear today. You can Google his name - I can't find a website for him but there are many articles about his film or if you're very keen to find out more, email us at BP and we'll see if we can get him to contact you.

There was a lot of detailed chemistry involved in some of the talks that I have to say went over my head for that early in the morning and my eyelids grew heavy - not for lack of trying to keep them open you understand, it was just my own 'script had run out a bit early so I'd overcompensated a bit with extra methadone, like you do...) but the information that soon emerged about ibogaine being a viral inhibitor was very interesting. Those with high viral loads for Hepatitis C found, after an Iboga session, levels had substantially reduced, however I urge you to look closer into the research available for more information on this.

It was clearly an field that drew 'converts' - perhaps even zealots, but I have to say that my own views on detoxing from my addiction to heroin (I'm on an opiate prescription as mentioned) began throwing up another option I'd really never considered before. Perhaps Ibogaine could actually be a worthwhile option instead of months on this, then swapping to that, then perhaps over to subutex for the final withdrawals...etc etc etc.

Ibogaine is supposed to alleviate withdrawals almost completely, you are in such a deep state of hallucinatory, and/or auditory thought, the withdrawals don't appear to torment you as they do when your are conscious. There is a chemical component which helps to divert many of the aches, pains, anxieties etc. I have asked several people, including a very dear friend who has taken ibogaine whether this was really true and he promised me it really was!

However i was taken aside by an 'underground ibogaine operative' - a great New Yorker who gave ibogaine treatments to people on a sliding scale (treatments do cost - there are doctors, equipment, time, rooms etc needed) who, although he got through his own addiction to drugs using ibogaine, assured me it wasn't a cure - there are zealots about - you still have to be ready in mind and body for the experience. And some people use it again, many times throughout their lives in fact, whenever they feel the need to 'get back in touch with themselves'.

I was told in no uncertain terms that 'NO, Iboga is NOT a CURE for addiction'. Sometimes it just works with the one treatment (which usually lasts for 24-48 hours), other people return to it a dozen times. It is not something you take for fun, nor is it something you take without, as our BP writer OldTheRod puts it 'the proper intent'. It is essential to have an experienced sitter with you, there are some medical complications that can occur and Iboga has recently been gathering a bit of bad press from a few deaths that have occurred while people have been undergoing treatment.

Yet again, it is because of the laws of the land, that make a drug such a ibogaine illegal, that ensures there can be no real regulation involved in the setting up of treatment centres. However, the community of ibogaine supporters are so enthusiastic about the properties of iboga, that they keep in close contact with each other, sharing information, best practice, research papers and news. They have managed to set up treatments available to people all around the world and constantly work at sharing their experiences and knowledge.

I spoke to Howard after the meeting and when I asked about what the pharmaceutical companies planned to do with iboga, he reeled off a list off obstacles to bringing ibogaine to the market. (It was once registered but I didn't manage to get to the bottom of why it was pulled of the shelf, so to speak). One fact is that drug companies can't patent this type of plant material (alkoloid?) - (excuse my sketchy knowledge, I've yet to go through all the papers but we plan to include a detailed piece in Black Poppy in an upcoming issue). They also tend to shy away from hallucinogens, from a drug that was 'discovered by hippies/junkies' and of course, a drug that potentially stops you from wanting or needing to take other Prozac type (SSRI's) or emotional pain killing drugs, and that has no real value or kudos for a drug company to retail it - along with the fact that it's used in ceremonies in central Africa, has an enormous vomiting potential and is generally - not the usual type of pharmaceutical a drug company would be interested in giving their patients!!!! So thats why!

But without the time to go into detail - I haven't as I said gone through all the paperwork and CD's I was kindly given at the meeting there are some things the interested person can do, and maybe I just might too...

Personally, I know of someone that stopped using heroin after years of trying after taking ibogaine, sold to him under the counter in a London hippy shop, a dangerous act - again something that happens when such a drug is hidden away, unregulated and clouded in much misinformation. We need to pick up Ibogaine, dust it off and have a good look into just what has been going on with it over the last 20-30 years and those 5000 people who have tried it officially since 1997. We can't expect other ex users and ibogaine converts to keep on risking their own lives and imprisonment by trying to help others break free of their addictions.
Check out the links, read a bit more and lets see if we can learn more from drugs that are a little outside the norm. Anyone who has had a trip knows the value in hallucinogens, their ability to teach and guide, and the brains' doors to the most insightful areas of perception....

VIDEO LINK: News and ideas to search out for the UK

VIDEO LINK: Click on the heading / link above to gain a brief insight into what the UK contingent are hoping to gain from this conference and this international meeting of minds; for ideas, research and information they each wish to take back to the UK....
We have finally sorted our youtube problems, thanks so much to the last person who sent in a comment to try Google's video uploader, a much more successful option. Bless you darling!

More to come...The last posting.

On Monday 21st, BP will be filling in the last of this blogg. We will be including the discussions on prohibition and the fantastic organsiation LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and our exclusive interview with Jack Cole, the exec dir) and what it means to harm reduction.

We will discuss the insights gained into Ibogaine and the interview BP had with Howard Lotsof and Dana Beal, and what the underground Ibogaine movement means to the drug using community and the Ibogaine practitioners, today.

We will be meeting and talking directly to the UK crew of service / user reps and listening to what they were searching for in this conference and what they will be taking back from this to the UK.

And we will be throwing in some of the words from the worlds user activists on what's happening in their own countries and the kinds of problems they each face. There is one theme that is the same for just about every country however...Now just have a guess what that might be...

NOTE: please forgive the difficulties with YOUTUBE. We had a great deal of problems connecting to the internet at the conference and uploading looked like a non starter altogether. The minimum size of 100 mgb means we can only show tiny bits and thus have to edit them down in another programme - and wouldn't you know it but I'm having trouble with our computer as well. Alas, we will continue with trying to upload and will certainly finish the text and adding of the pics.

BP will be putting together a short film of interviews of around 15 countries - asking them all the same five questions, and getting some very interesting and insightful answers to the types of issues affecting drug users today. Stay tuned.