Newsletter Non-profit

November 2007 Volume 1, Issue 5

AB110 AND SB7 67 SI GN ED BY TH E The community of harm treatment training program, as defined, GOV ER NO R reduction professionals and without being subject to civil liability or

IN THIS ISSUE • SB767 and AB110 Signed by the Governor of California • Successful Training Highlights

Individual Highlights: New Bills

THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS

1

Victory for AIDS Prevention

1

Training Update

2

San Fran Explores Safe Injection

2

Update on AIDS

4

Announcements

6

consumers were especially excited in recent weeks as Governor Schwarzenegger signed two key bills – SB 767 and AB 110. SB 767 reads as follows. This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2011, a licensed health care provider, who is already permitted pursuant to existing law to prescribe an opioid antagonist, as defined, if acting with reasonable care, to prescribe and subsequently dispense or distribute an opiod antagonist in conjunction with an opioid overdose prevention and

criminal prosecution. AB110 makes it possible to use state HIV prevention and education funds for the distribution of needles and syringes. The bill recognizes that the continued spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C represents a serious health threat in California. Persons who are injection drug users are at great risk if they do not have access to clean syringes/needles. This bill makes it possible to use key funds to provide this paraphanelia to injection drug users. It supports the highly important work of the needle exchange programs in LA and elsewhere in the US.

VICTORY FOR LOCAL AIDS PREVENTION AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS In a victory for HIV/AIDS prevention and drug treatment programs, Congress today removed an amendment to ban federal funds for cities that establish a medically supervised drug injection facility from the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill. The amendment by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)-included in the Senate version of the billwas deleted by a bipartisan conference committee composed of House and Senate Appropriations subcommittee members.

"This is a victory for major

cities seeking ways to address the health issues faced by those who use intravenous drugs," said Hillary McQuie, western regional director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, a group committed to reducing the harmful impacts of drug use in society. The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) viewed the amendment as a reckless response to an October meeting it helped organize in San Francisco. The meeting brought together community leaders,

advocates, and the San Francisco Department of Health to discuss establishing a medically supervised injection facility as a means of decreasing drug overdoses and curbing the spread of Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases by intravenous drug users. The provision by Sen. DeMint was challenged by health and treatment advocates who argued the federal government should not control how states and cities address health issues.

THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS SUCCESSFUL TRAINING BY HOMELESS HEALTH CARE LA provided a broad range of On Monday, November 2, Eve Rubell and Bobby Smith of Homeless Health Care LA provided a highly successful training on Conflict De-Escalation and Intervention. The training was sponsored by the Harm Reduction Training Institute. This day-long event was held at the offices of the Drug Policy Alliance and was attended by 21 professionals in various aspects of social services in LA.

practical tools for dealing with a variety of difficult situations. Some of the situations that were discussed included:

The training was extremely well received as the members were

 Difficult or irate clients  Potentially violent clients  Staying safe in difficult or violent situations  De-escalating a negative situation

San Francisco Explores Safe Injection Facilities PREVENTION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, SUPPORT

On October 18, the Drug Policy Alliance, along with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the Harm Reduction Coalition, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, cosponsored a full-day symposium that examined the needs, feasibility, support, and various options for a legal Safe Injection Facility for homeless and marginally housed injection drug

users (IDUs) in San Francisco, and for the community impacted by them.

community, and evaluators from InSite, a safe injection facility in Vancouver, Canada.

Organized by the Alliance for Saving Lives, a local consortium of communitybased organizations of which DPA is a member, the symposium included public health officials, service providers, legal experts, injection drug users, community groups, leaders in the faith

San Francisco has several large concentrations of injection drug users (IDUs), and while HIV prevalence remains relatively low among IDUs, rates of hepatitis C have reached epidemic levels and fatal opiate overdose remains one of the leading causes of (CONTINUED ON PG 3)

California Chronic Care Coalition Seeks Consumer Input The California Chronic Care Coalition is looking for consumers who are willing to come forward and speak to the members of the media on a variety of issues that have impaired their access to care or treatment, affordability , preexisting conditions, underserved condition, no insurance, no knowledge

of prevention or lack of awareness. The California Hepatitis C Task Force is a core member of this coalition and any persons interested in discussing their story

with the press should contact Bill Remak @ (707) 773-4922 for more information.

Page 3 of 6

THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS

San Francisco Explores Safe Injection Facilities (From page 2) death in San Francisco. Community concerns regarding public drug use and improperly discarded syringes have been raised repeatedly over the last few decades. Forty other cities in eight countries around the world facing similar issues have opened Safe Injection Facilities since the first one opened in Switzerland in 1986, and last week’s symposium opened a broad discussion about this option for San Francisco. Positive research results

from InSite were presented at the symposium. After four years of operation, the Vancouver facility has seen: reduction of public disorder related to injection drug use; reduction of unsafe disposal of syringes; no adverse affect in community drug use patterns; and no increase in drug-related crime. Scott Burris, law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, examined the legal landscape around setting up a safe injection facility. Mr. Burris

painted a picture of the current legal and political realities and left the audience with the message that where there is a political will, there is a legal way to move forward. The day concluded with a panel discussion about next steps for turning the day’s vision into a reality in San Francisco. Remarking upon the palpable energy in the room, panelists spoke about the need for outreach and education across a broad spectrum of communities. While acknowledging the very real hurdles ahead, the audience demonstrated significant confidence that San Francisco is the city that can lead the way. Many thanks to the Drug Policy Alliance website for this article. www.drugpolicy.org.

2007 African American World AIDS Day Conference Neighborhood Fundraising Network Inc. (NFN), in conjunction with global, national, and local HIV/AIDS awareness activities, is proud to produce the Seventh Annual Southern California African-American HIV/AIDS Conference. They are anticipating attendees ranging from medical healthcare professionals and

service providers to concerned citizens diagnosed with AIDS or living with persons who have HIV/AIDS. This year the Keynote address will be delivered by Keith Rawlings, MD, Medical Director Peabody Health Center /AIDS Arms, Inc. Nationwide, AIDS is the number one killer of African Americans aged 25 to 44. Researchers estimate

that 1 in 50 African American men and 1 in 150. African American women are infected with HIV/AIDS. According to current estimates, approximately half of all new HIV infections occur among African Americans. On Sunday, Dec. 2, there will the 2007 African American World AIDS Day GOSPEL CONCERT featuring Hezekiah Walker and Byron Cage.

Event takes place on: Sat. Dec. 1, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort 300 N. Harbor Dr. Redondo Beach

THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS LA COUNTY HIV DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE EVENT – DECEMBER 5 The LA County HIV Drug and Alcohol Task Force is sending out registration forms for their annual

Network & Nosh, which is coming up on December 5. They would like you to register, hopefully attend and also to take your turn at the mike (5 minutes or so) to tell everyone about your

The poor are the hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

program and the services you offer, about your SPN or SAAC group, about your planning body or committee, or about any events you think folks should know about. Network and Nosh takes place on Wednesday,

December 5, from 10 am – 3 pm at Cri-Help - 11027 Burbank

Blvd. North Hollywood. There will be great food, presentations, community building and some new networking opportunities. Register now to attend. Their email address is: [email protected] This annual event is always a lot of fun and it provides a great networking opportunity. See you there!

DAY LONG EVENT ON AIDS RESEARCH – NOV. 27 On Nov. 27, the AIDS Health Alliance is sponsoring a day-long event to discuss how HIV research works. This will encompass what it means to be a volunteer in a bona fide research project. This is esp. relevant for

anyone - regardless of HIV status who would like to learn more about volunteering for HIV/AIDS clinical trials. The event will take place at the Cal. Endowment – 1000 N. Alameda St. and will run from 8:30 am –

12:45. Seating is limited so they ask that anyone interested register by Nov. 26. There will be breakfast and snacks and the event is free. There will also be a community resource table for services and programs.

HIV/AIDS CONTINUES TO TAKE ITS TOLL IN AFRICA

AIDS is Burning Africa

According to stats collected by TIME, over 17 million Africans have died of AIDS since the epidemic hit the continent back in the 70’s. Over 3 million of those have been children. It is also estimated that over 12 million African children have become orphans as a result of AIDS. Over 8% of adults in African are living with

HIV/AIDS. The continent continues to be devastated by the epidemic. It is one of the places on earth that needs the most support in harm reduction efforts and support for those affected by the epidemic. According to the Canadian Harm Reduction Network, South Africa is the region most severely

affected by AIDS not only in Africa but in the world. Their research states that 20-25% of Zambia’s adult pop. Is HIV positive and over 300 people die each day. For more information on the growing crisis, go to www.canadianharmredu ction.com.

Page 5 of 6

THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS

Criminal Justice and Mental Health Collaboration-Improved Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve the criminal justice and mental health collaboration grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, (P.L. 108-414, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act) was introduced last week in both chambers of Congress. Although the current program does not expire until 2009, the reauthorization appears to be on a fast track, due largely to bipartisan sponsor support. A

voice vote approval by the House Judiciary subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security came just a few days after the bill's introduction. The House and Senate versions renew the core MIOTCRA grant program and increase the authorization from $50 million to $75 million, while also renewing the mental health courts grant. The legislation would extend the program to FY 20013. In addition, the bills provide for new

grants in need-based areas, including: greater law enforcement training; effective treatment of female prisoners with mental illnesses; statewide planning outreach to coordinate the treatment of incarcerated individuals with mental illnesses and provide for new interventions; improved screening, identification and assessment of mentally ill inmates; and increased coordination of transitional, post release services. Contact your Senators and Representative to urge them to support the bill; see a "Dear Colleague" letter from Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Randy Forbes (R-VA). The House Judiciary Committee is likely to mark up the bill this week and thereafter it will move to the floor, where every vote matters.

UPCOMING EVENT - For Children of Incarcerated Parents There are an ever growing number of programs and services for children of the incarcerated. These programs are designed to provide support in a variety of venues and with many and varied goals. This training by telephone will address the supports that children of the incarcerated need and explore programmatic responses to those

needs including school and community based support groups, mentoring programs and visitation initiatives that include supports for the children. For details on this training by phone and how to register, go to http://www.fcnetwork. org http://www.fcnetwork. org.

TRAINING BY TELEPHONE: Children's Bill of Rights #6 DATE: December 13, 2007, 2PM Eastern Many thanks to Jose Rodriguez, Housing and Re-Entry Services Coordinator, for this information. To be put on his mailing list, email him at: jrodriguez@tarzanatc. org

New Brochure – “Hepatitis C Inside” THE HARM REDUCTION NEWS

The Harm Reduction Coalition – We’re on the Web at: www.harmreduction.org

Check out our website for news on harm reduction issues all over the world. The latest info. on legislative updates, and important research.

The Center for Health Justice which is always at the forefront of creating proactive programs and services for persons in California jails and prisons has just announced a new and important

brochure. Cathy Olufs, the Education Director announced yesterday they have developed a new HCV booklet for California inmates. This is an important step forward towards creating greater

awareness of Hepatitis C issues in the California correctional system. Free copies can be ordered in bulk by contacting Cathy at: 323-822-3830 x2020 Many thanks to Center for Health Justice.

KEEP VANCOUVER’S INSITE ALIVE If you would like to support North America’s only safe injection site, then please let the Canadian government know. They have given

Insite until June 2008 to “demonstrate” their efficacy, even though they’ve done this in numerous scientific studies. Please support Insite by contacting Canada’s

Minister of Health, Tony Clement at: [email protected] OR by fax to: (613)

952-1154.

SAFETY COUNTS – A Group for Injection Drug Users This group is held weekly at the BAART Methadone clinic located at 4920 S. Avalon, Los Angeles, CA 90011. The days are on Friday mornings from 9am-11am. The group sessions are closed groups and clients must be enrolled before attending the group. A needle exchange site for the County is held on Friday mornings at BAART Lynwood,6am-8am. The address is 11315 S. Atlantic, Lynwood, CA/

HARM REDUCTION COALITION

NEXT MEETING OF THE HARM REDUCTION COLLABORATIVE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1 – 3 PM AT: HOMELESS HEALTH CARE LA 512 E. 4th St. LOS ANGELES