User's News No. 52 Summer 2007/08
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Published by the NSW Users and AIDS Association Issue No. 52, Summer 2007/08 2 It’s Time for a Bi-partisan Approach to Drug Policy Reform Editorial 3 News News 5 Letters Letters 7 Kicking Against the Pricks — Leah User’s Opinion 9 Thank God for Methadone! — Carlos User’s Story 10 Requiem For A Friend — Anon. User’s Story 12 Fate Is The Hunter — Ernie User’s Story articles 14 A Bitter Pill — Phil User’s Story 15 APSAD 2007 — Susan McGuckin Article 16 My Very Own Vietnam War — Judith User’s Story 18 Acid Memories — Jeanie User’s Story 20 Is Smack Coming Back? — Gideon Warhaft Article 20 The Illicit Drug Reporting System: Latest Heroin Findings Article — Emma Black and Natasha Sindicich 22 Surviving Sydney’s Next Heroin Tsunami — Nicolette Burrows Article 23 My Thoughts — Darren Poem stories 24 Christmas in the Badlands — Tony Sawrey Comic 26 Loaded: Great Heroin Songs of the Rock Era — Mathew Bates Article 28 Doctor Shopping — For a Doctor Who Cares — Lissette User’s Story 30 A Country Bust — Martha User’s Story 32 How to Write a Killer User’s News Story Article 33 Notes From an NSP Vox Pops 34 One Tiny Step at a Time — Miss Been There Before User’s Story 36 It’s Not the End of The World — Lisa User’s Story stories 37 Free Stuff to Do this Summer Article 38 The Gift of The Tragic! — Bodine Comic 40 What Was I Thinking? — Rachael User’s Story 42 What Are Your Problems? with Ida Bigge Hitte Advice 43 OxyContin — A User’s Response — Anon. Article 44 How to Make a Cracker of a Christmas Lunch! Food — Megan Gayford 45 Useful Contacts and Numbers Resources comics 48 Where to Get Fits NSP list ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER User’s News # 52 Approved advertisements will be The contents of this magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the NSW PO Box 278, Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 relevant to the objectives and aims Users & AIDS Association, Inc. (NUAA). NUAA does not judge people who choose of NUAA. In special circumstances, to use drugs illicitly, and User’s News welcomes contributions which express p (02) 8354 7300 or advertisements will be accepted if opinions and raise issues of concern to drug users - past, present, and potential. In 1800 644 413 they are perceived to be of general light of current laws on self-administration of drugs, however, it should be clear that f (02) 8354 7350 interest to User’s News’ readership. by publishing the contents of this magazine NUAA does not encourage anyone e [email protected] User’s News takes no responsibility to do anything illegal. While not intending to censor or change their meaning, with respect to the claims made by User’s News reserves the right to edit articles for length, grammar, and clarity. Editor Gideon Warhaft advertisers. The publication of an User’s News allows credited reprinting by community-based groups and other Ass. Editor Uri Auerbach advertisement in User’s News is not user groups with prior approval, available by contacting NUAA. Information in Cover Elisabeth Bischofer an endorsement of the advertisers, this magazine cannot be guaranteed for accuracy by the editor, writers, or NUAA. Illustrators Bodine, Rose Ertler, the products and/or services featured. User’s News takes no responsibility for any misfortunes which may result from any To advertise in User’s News, please actions taken based on materials within its pages and does not indemnify readers Ursula Dyson, Tony Sawrey, contact the editor on (02) 8354 7300, agains any harms incurred. The distribution of this publication is targeted - User’s Glenn Smith, Renata Pari or at [email protected]. News is not intended for general distribution. ISSN #1440-4753. Layout Elisabeth Bischofer Summer 2007/08 User’s News #52 1 It’s Time for a Bi-partisan Approach to Drug Policy This is all very encouraging, but ambition is likely to Reform trump common sense, and make no mistake — Nelson is ambitious. Ironically, after arch-conservative Tony Many readers of User’s News would be rejoicing at the Abbott withdrew from the leadership race, the largely demise of the Howard government, not least because of conservative Liberal caucus had to choose between its drug policy. “Tough on Drugs” was the mantra, the the progressive Nelson and the even more progressive message being zero tolerance to drug use and opposition Malcolm Turnbull. Progressive though he may be, to progressive programs such as the proposed heroin Nelson is not likely to stick his neck out for drug users trial in the ACT (scuttled by the Howard government if it means getting the conservatives in his party off side, in 1997). and he’s likely to tread very carefully in these areas. In reality, however, the Howard government largely Nevertheless, this new leadership of the conservative continued the policies of the previous Hawke and side of politics can only be a good thing, as it will Keating Labor governments, giving the bulk of drug hopefully mean an end to the wedge politics which strategy funding to law enforcement, but nevertheless Howard used to drive the public away from health supporting Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs). In based approaches to drug policy. fact, the Howard government was the first to directly Despite the caution exhibited by both sides, the outcome fund NSPs from federal coffers, consolidating them as of the election does offer a chance for a bi-partisan the first line of defense against the spread of HIV in the approach to drug reform, even if it is moderate. Earlier drug using community. Howard might have hated drugs this month the ABC screened a documentary entitled (and those who used them) but he knew how to read a Rampant: How A City Stopped A Plague about the response balance sheet, and the figures told him that NSPs were to HIV in Sydney in the 1980s. The documentary showed amongst the most cost effective government initiatives in that despite pressure from the Right (particularly from Australia’s history. the Reverend Fred Nile) the then Labor Federal Health Now we have the Rudd government, creating frissons of Minister, Dr Neal Blewett, reached an agreement with excitement all over the country with its promise of real the then Shadow Health Minister, Dr Peter Baume, and change and a more caring attitude, not to mention a implemented the most radical and far reaching response ministry almost half of which is comprised of the Left. to the HIV threat anywhere in the world (including the But Rudd has consistently branded himself as a social introduction of NSPs). Australia now has perhaps the as well as an economic conservative, and there is no hint world’s lowest rate of HIV amongst drug users and one that he intends to advocate radical approaches to drug of the lowest amongst gay men. policy. Rudd is certainly showing some encouraging Prime Minister Rudd and his Health Minister Nicola signs such as his focus on homelessness (often related to Roxon now have the opportunity to draw on the courage drug issues) but most experts think that drug policy will of Blewett and Baume by seeking co-operation from Dr continue much like before — strong law enforcement Nelson and making long-needed drug law reforms for but with a continued commitment to harm reduction, the benefit of the entire community. No-one expects such as NSPs — even if the tough on drugs rhetoric is the new government to make wholesale changes to toned down a bit. drug policy — any changes will be evolutionary rather The real wildcard out of this election is the new than revolutionary. Howard made it clear he wouldn’t opposition leader, Dr Brendan Nelson. Dr Nelson, who support new harm reduction initiatives no matter what famously sported a diamond studded ear ring in his days the evidence, essentially deep freezing any new ideas. as president of the Australian Medical Association, is Now the political atmospherics have altered and Rudd one of the most socially progressive leaders the Liberal has signalled he’s more interested in evidence-based Party has had. Nelson had a close family member die rather than ideologically-driven strategies. With Rudd of HIV-related illness and being a medical doctor he is and Nelson at the head of the major parties, now is the more likely to take an evidence-based approach to drug perfect opportunity to encourage bi-partisan approaches policy rather than simply going for politically convenient to drug policy reform — perhaps starting with revitalising but ineffective strategies. Recently, the online journal the proposed heroin trial in the ACT. Crikey.com published a letter Nelson wrote in 1997 Gideon Warhaft about the drug war: “If this is a war, any person with any semblance of intelligence would appreciate that it is one we are neither winning nor are likely to win without a change in strategy.” 2 User’s News #52 Summer 2007/08 Toying with GHB understood to have stockpiled the Blow for Bali Nine State governments including NSW toys before they were belatedly re- Indonesian constitutional judges have banned a popular toy called moved from Victorian shelves.” have knocked back a legal challenge Bindeez, because the colourful beads Youth psychologist Dr Michael Carr- over the validity of the death sentenc- can turn into the illegal drug GHB Gregg then chimed in warning that es delivered againstthree Australians when they are swallowed. The toy was teenagers at schoolies week were sure for drug trafficking. The appeal was recalled in November when three chil- to scarf all the Bindeez they could get on whether a 2000 amendment to the dren were admitted to hospital in sep- their adolescent mitts on: “My fear is constitution declaring the right to life arate incidents after ingesting the tiny that they will get drunk and then use as a basic human right could be up- beads, which were named the ‘2007 anything that is available” he said.