Black poppy Magazine, Issue 1 (1998) by erin omara

. A FLl5LICATION 5 Y DRUG U5ER5 FOR DRUG U5ER5

Abcesses Published with assistance from the Caravan Needle Exchange

Tips on diagnosis and prevention

Drug Users and Treatment Liver Function Tests The problems drug users have in accessing treatment

Deciphering your own results

f\bfJUlar Features

Users News and Stories

Drug Users Who Left Brillianc11 uii :ii.. ~, Drugs and History

Views, experiences and the update on user groups

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6 5wtVi WViav'f Rd Paddltlqtovi Ph 0171 886 1972/1418 The Caravan is a 'uni9ue health care service tor drug users providing a comprehensive 1-ange ot interventions to empower those individuals living with the challenges ot substance misuse'. The Caravan is a Client Led service which means that the clients are involved on every level ot the Caravans de~elopment (tram the hiring ot statt, the need tor services, input ot ideas, steering groups etc) and the service continues to evolve around the clients needs. It is a non judgmental, sate and supportive environment, with statt coming tram a variety ot backgrounds including ex-users. Services on otter are; a needle exchange, HIV/Hep C and injecting advice and information, Hep 5 vaccinations, walk in wound and nursing service, doctor, benetits help and advice, Hep C group, home visits, counselling, complementary therapies - shiatsu, aromatherapy, acupuncture, legal advice and reterrals and more. The Caravan is much loved by its clients and has a bright tuture as a client led service. Opening times are 1 1am-5pm each week-day, but closed tor lunch between 1-2pm. The drop-In is open trom 2-5pm each week-day.

Appointments available orjust walk in.

Fancy yourself as a budding journalist? Think you'd like to review movies, books or records? Draw cartoons? Or perhaps interviewing interesting people is more your style. Well, if you'd like to get involved in Black Poppy, just get in touch with the Editor.

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The Black Poppy Crew Editor; Erin O'Mara Tecbnica:I Consultant; Steven Mannion Design & Layout; E O'Mara & S Mannion Proof Reader; Chris Dronet Crossword production; C Dronet Reporters; Trisha Hunter, E.O'Mara Consultants; Ciaran Kelly, Wendy O'Mara and Sarah Hussey. Thanks to all those people who gave their years of drug using experience to help in the production of this magazine aud the users who took the time to contribute their stories. The Consnltants who gave their extremely valuable advice and guidance and we thank them all dearly. Special thanks to S Mannion for your time and talent and to Ciaran Kelly aud the staff at the Caravan Needle Exchange for their unending support and belief in us and this project and to C Dronet, whose support and sustenance kept the Editor sane (xx). A final big thank you to Siwan Hayward and Robin Doran from KCW and the Westminster Drug Action Team for turning their support into pounds and really getting behind us. 1/'QHfl YOU XXXXX

'(13 thi Polici wound down thiir 3\larch, it 3oon bicami apparint whiri thi 4 kilo3 had b1Z1Zn 3ta3h\ld ...... ..

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Abscesses Published with assistance from the Caravan Needle Exchange

Tips on diagnosis and prevention

Drug Users and Treatment Liver Function Tests The problems drug users have in accessing treatment

Deciphering your own results

Regular Features

Users News and Stories ~

Drug Users Who Left Brilliance Behind, Drugs and History Views, experiences and the update on user groups

The Black Poppy Crew

T~e CaravQVJ Needle ExcViaviqe 6 swtVi WViav'f Rel PaclclVigtovi

Ph 0171 886 1972/1418 The Caravan is a 'uni9ue health care service for drug users providing a comprehensive range of interventions to empower those individuals living with the challenges ot substance misuse'. The Caravan is a Client Led service which means that the clients are involved on every level of the Caravans de~eloprnent (from the hiring of statf, the need tor services, input of ideas, steeringgr-oups etc) and the service continues to evolve around the clients needs. It is a non judgmental, sate and supportive environment, with statf corning from a variety of backgrounds including ex-users. Services on otter are; a needle exchange, HIV/Hep C and injecting advice and information, Hep

vaccina-

tions, walk in wound and nursing service, doctor, benefits help and advice, Hep C group, home visits, counselling, complementary therapies - shiatsu, aromatherapy, acupuncture, legal advice and referrals and more. The Caravan is much loved by its clients and has a bright future as a client led service. Opening times are I I arn-5prn each weekday, but closed for lunch between 1-2prn. The drop-In is open From 2-5 pm each weekday.

Appointments available orjust walk in .

Editor; Erin O'Mara Technical Consultant; Steven M Design & Layout; E O'Mara & S Man~ nion Proof Reader; Chris Dronet Crossword production; C Dronet Reporters; Trisha Hunter, E.O'Mara Consultants; Ciaran Kelly, Wendy O'Mara and Sarah Hussey. Thanks to all those people who gave their years of drug using experience to help in the production of this magazine and the users who took the time to contribute their stories. The Consultants who gave thek extremely valuable advice and guidance and we thank them all· dearly. Special thanks to S Mannion for· your time and talent and to Ciaran Kelly and the staff at the Caravan Needle Exchange for their unending support and belief in us and this project and to C Dronet, whose support and sustenance. kept the Editor sane (xx). A final big thank you to Siwan Hayward and Rol:tiµ Doran from KCW and the Westminsterc • Drug Action Team for turning their support into pounds and really getting be- · hind us.

Fancy yourselfas a budding•------. . . . . journalist? Think you'd Iik____ to review movies, books or records? Draw cartoons? Or perhaps interviewing interesting people is more your style. Well, if you'd like to get involved in Black Poppy, just get in touch with the Editor.

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'(Is th!Z Polici wound down thiir siarch, it soon bicami apparint whiri thi 4 kilos had biin stashid ....... . 2

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CONTENTS

magazine created and produced solely by curI

f oppy

E_-mail, blackpopp!:J@.'Jahoo.com

is a kind of 'users

lifestyle magazine' and although small, we hope to cover the issues, concerns, ideas and developments that are relevant and important to our oommunity, as well as directly involving drug users in all aspects of its production. The symbol of the poppy issignificant not only because of its relation to drugs, but also because it symbolises remembrance for the manyvictims of war. The !)lack

f oppy remem-

bers the casualties of the drugs war, all those

0181968))11

6 .'3 0 U TH W HA K F K D, fADDINGTON W2

rent and ex - drug users, for the drug using community. !)lack

!':>LACK fOffY FUE>LICATION5 0 I 7 I 8 8 6 I+ I 8

TE.L OK

feat lA V' e5 Drug Users - Scapegoats or Activists? Sam Friedman discusses drug users in the economic scheme of things ..................................... 8 An Armistice in the War of Words Psychologist W.O'Mara analyses the language and attitudes surrounding drug users and treatment.. ........ 10 A Junky Liberation Front A Ginsberg on the persecution of Drug Users by the state ...................................................................... 12 Tips On Trips Tips for Tripping with Magic Mushrooms .................. 13 Liver Function Tests Info Update on how to read your own liver function test results .................................................................... 14 Abcesses What they are and tips on how to prevent them ................. 16 PULL OUT A colour venal system pull out and tips on shooting up .... ..

who have died, those withf=IJV/AIDS/Hep .

ReglAlaV's

C, lost loved ones or become maimed as a result of misguided policies, attitudes or care. The 'drugs war' affects all of us every day and we are concerned about the health and liberty of our community. Despite our opening circulation being small and centring around the

C.W borough, we hope to get our mag into some prisons on a regular basis so we'll let you know how we get on. Contributions by ey current users will be the backbone of our publication and our first priority will be to try and raise the funds to pay for the stories/articles you write in: We encourage anyone who has used drugs to. send their stories, poems, recipes, drawings or 9uestions to us as well as suggestions on what issues you would like to

News, Users News, News Review-What's going on in the news and What's The Score reports on what's happening in User Groups ....... 4&5 Drug Users Who Left Brilliance Behind- This issue it's the Granddaddy of drugs, William S. Burroughs and his contribution - G.Sutton ..... 6 The Science on Substances -Ibogaine, the drug under review fordetox and rehabilitation ..... , .......................................................... 7 Drugs and the Law -Drugs, the Old Bill and You, RELEASEinformation on your rights when stopped, searched or arrested ........................ 9 The Opium Wars - This issue's drugs and history feature is by Adam Wallace on the English and their relationship with opium .................... 19 Q & A - Dr Lotsadrugs answers your questions, should you save those clogged up filters or are you asking for a dirty hit? ............................ 23 Movie Review -G Sutton reviews Kurt and Courtney,coming out on video in the new year. ................................................................ 24 Crossword, Jokes and Quotes -Anybody got anymore jokes or quotes for next issue? ................................................................. 25 Remembrances -A chance to remember your friends .................... 27 Resources - Helplines, User Groups and Forums,Events, Organisations, Campaigns and Pharmacy Needle Exchanges ...................... , ............ 28

see covered. We also need some more permanent members on board, so if there's any budding reporters out there, please drop us a line! , A Huge Thank You to the contributors and crew involved in the first issue and to the Caravan Needle E_xchange for being total diamonds and supporting us all the way. Also a big thank you to Australia's Users News

lAseV's CoVJtV'iblAtiovis A Detox To Remember by Lisa B ........................................ 12 Last Train To Woking by C.D ............................................. 18 A Certified Detox by Sir Arthur Strebb Gribbling ................. 20 Poetry Page ....................................................................... 22 Soap Box (Tell it Like it Is}, Anon ....................................... 26

(N(JAA) for their kindness, encouragement and lead. We hope everyone has a great Xmas and new year, party hard but party safe! Till next issue (we're coming out 9uarterly) E_d (6riM O'MaraJ

BIC1ck Poppy Publicqtions

The contents of this magazine do not necessarily represent the views of Black Poppy Publications. Although Black Poppy does not judge morally on the illegal use of drugs, Black Poppy welcomes contribution's which express opinions and raise issues of concern to drug users - past, present and potential. While not intending to change their meaning, Black Poppy reserves the right to edit articles for length and grammar, so you don't have to be a brilliant writer to get published! We reserve the right to refuse to publish materials that contravene the aims and objectives ofB.P.P Black Poppy allows credited reprinting by community based groups and other user groups except for users stories/contributions which -require prior approval, available by contacting Black Poppy Publications. Information gathered in this magazine cannot always be guaranteed for accuracy by the editor, writers, or Black Poppy Publications. Black Poppy takes no responsibility for any misfortunes which may result from any published materials within its pages and does not indemnify readers against any harms incurred .

rixton prison has been urged to review the medical treatment of it's prisoners after a heroin addict died because doctors were not called to assist him.(Time Out 12-19 Aug). Southwark coroners court heard last week that Ronnie Nelson's screams of agony were ignored because staff believed he was just going through cold turkey. In fact, he had a ruptured ulcer. Arrested on suspected drug offences, Nelson, 35, of Islington, complained of feeling unwell whilst in police custody and was prescribed dihydrocodeine for his addiction by a doctor. Two days later he was remanded at Brixton prison. His cellmate, Frank Irvine, revealed to the jury that Nelson had told him straight away, " I am in trouble. There is something wrong." For the next three nights, Nelson kept waking up screaming and in extreme pain. On one occasion he was given a paracetamol but health officials did not think there was any need to call a doctor. On March 7, the day Nelson was eventually taken to hospital (five days after his arrest), Irvine told the court that Nelson had stood in his cell, hands shaking and eyes bulging. He had shouted at Irvine "Please make sure you tell them at the inquest that they would not help me," before collapsing in his cell. Irvine screamed for help and Nelson was rushed to intensive care where an emergency operation was carried out on a perforated duodenal ulcer. However, Ronnie Nelson died shortly afterwards from multi-organ failure.

risoners are unwittingly providing the police with thousands of items of infonnation about crime after a reassessment was made of the way intelligence is gathered and handled inside jails. Each prison will now have a 'police liaison officer' who's role is to pass on information gathered from cell wings, prisoners mail or overheard from telephone conversations.

In the past prison intelligence mainly concerned itself with things that went on inside the jail and did not necessarily pass on information to outside sources. The new system ensures police greater access to prison information and has already been adopted throughout 13 5 jails across England and Wales. (Reliable sources tell us that at least one jail- Wormwood Scrubs- has fitted out it's exercise with sensitive hidden microphones- Ed)

e bring some very welcome news from Germany, where the new govennnent is promising changes to the current drug policy. The Social Democrat/Green coalition have long been signalling for a change in policy and have begun by taking an important step. The responsibility for drugs policy has been shifted from the interior to the health ministry in Bonn and a prominent politician from the Greens, (who have pushed liberalisation but failed to achieve a breakthrough on decriminalising soft drugs), is to be appointed special government drugs commissioner. Campaigners for change want Germany to follow the Swiss and Dutch lead by giving heroin to addicts under medical supervision and by providing them with safe places to inject. . In Frankfurt, where there may be as many as 9000 addicts there is already 4 centres in the red light district where users can shoot up in safety, pick up methadone, get clean needles, equipment and advice and is successfully reaching the many homeless users current services don't reach. Since these venues were introduced, drug related deaths have fallen by 80% and Frankfurt police also report a large drop in drug related crime. Chancellor Shrader signalled a sea change in drugs policy in October by promising legislation "to make the Frankfurt model possible legally", which could herald some sweeping changes in areas of harm minimisation. Shroder is the first German Chancellor to talk about drugs dependence as having more to do with illness than with crime and is to

proceed with the introduction of pilot projects officially supplying heroin to registered addicts. Campaigners are confident that a dramatic shift in official attitudes towards drugs could have a knock on effect across Europe.

new book aimed at health professionals entitled 'The Truth About Drugs', has published research highlighting the dramatic rise in doctors who are currently addicted to drink or drugs. The study, conducted by the books author Dr Patrick Dixon, cone ludes that as many as 1 in l 0 doctors are suffering from an addiction and that every hospital and almost every large G.P practice is affected by it. The Sick Doctors Trust which provides a helpline for sick/stressed doctors has also seen a 30% increase in the number of doctors it refers for treatment and their figures have suggested that around 300 doctors a year are becoming addicts. Dixon's research has reinforced calls for the British Medical Association (BMA), to introduce random urine testing where medical teams would take blood and urine samples. Dixon believes this is the only way to tackle the problem. It does however, appear to be a very short sighted approach. The lack of care for addicted doctors and the stigma and punishments associated with addiction are only reinforced by random urine tests. Better care and support services may be a more humane and successful long tenn approach.(J could think of a few doctors I'd like to see get a supervised urine test-a bit of their own medicine eh!-Ed)

•••he American Food and Drug Administration has approved the first urine test to confmn the presence of HIV antibodies. The test which is said to be 99. 7% accurate, can eliminate the need to draw blood, thus making tests cheaper. This is great news for those of us with no veins left, when a blood test at the doctors can mean becoming a human pincushion ....

.y.

For as long as anyone can remember, drug users have had to put up with 'professionals' interpreting their needs, politicians deciding what addicts deserve and society delivering its moralistic attitudes in double helpings. Everybody's shouting but no-one is listening and drug users are being trodden underfoot. But the 'voice' of the drug user has slowly been getting louder, User forums are sprouting up all over the country and if you listen hard enough, you can hear a chorus of addicts yelling 'Enough is Enough!'. On the 12th of October, a dozen committed drug users representing various User's organisations attended a meeting with the deputy drugs czar, Mike Trace. The aim of the meeting was to establish a mechanism that would enable drug users to have direct representation and links with the czar's office At present, ex and current drug users interests are being represented by a series of professional bodies, (D.R.G's, D.A.T's, A.C.M.D's)

BRITAIN'S FIRST DRUG COURT OPENS i

When Britain's first U S influenced 'Drugs Court' opened its doors on the 8th of June this year, a specially trained bench of professionals handed down terms of compulsory detoxification/ rehabilitation for the three young addicts standing charged before them. They are to return monthly to court for progress reports and were given stem warnings that failure or lapses in their treatment programmes could result in their being sent to prison. The pilot scheme, hailed as an 'innovative 2nd chance for drug offenders' but in no way a 'soft option', could be seen as a sensible alternative to prison. But whether this move is well in-

As drug user groups throughout the world grapple with the challenges of changing individual attitudes and governmental policies, it has become clear that drug users need to unite to have an effective voice on the international scene. NUAA ( N.S.W Users and AIDS Assoc) have recently formed an International Drug Users Action Group (IDUAG), whose aim is to gather a group of users and user organisations interested in working directly on international

issues affecting drug users. IDUAG hopes to increase the participation level of user groups at various international drug conferences, feeling that, in the past, user groups have to often been relegated to marginal 'satellite' roles leaving no mechanism to give feedback on user concerns to the larger international harm reduction community. A united international user voice might make the difference in lobbying for greater user representation. NUAA News

where the fundamental impact of drug policies on the user's welfare, becomes secondary if not contradictory with the anti-drugs rhetoric and certain self interests, (amongst other things) of health professionals/police/politicians and community groups.User groups are feeling that they are, at best, patronised by being superficially consulted on decisions made after the event rather than included in the complete developmental process. It was explained in the meeting with Mike Trace how a representative User Network, with a credible, political voice is an essential step towards acknowledgement of the

drugs community. Although the particulars are still to be thrashed out, it is to remain essential that the organisation will be as representative as possible and democratic through consensus. It was arranged that two meetings a year will be held with Hellawell (the Czar) or Trace, and six drug activists will attend as delegates to represent the large variety of user groups. Regular meetings will be held with these user groups to ensure that as many user's views, will be heard and encouraged. WELL DONE! See the users organisation section on page 31. for more information.

tentioned or not (and one fears it almost solely stems from a need to combat overcrowding in prisons, lengthy and costly court proceedings), it is most certainly ill thought out. This new strategy relies heavily on the assumption that treatment programmes will succeed in rehabilitating addicts, enabling them to re-enter society as productive, drug-free individuals-OR ELSE. This, despite the significant data available which testifies to current treatment centres- particularly the detox and re-hab type- as having extremely low, long term success rates. In fact, most estimates appear to show a very high relapse rate amongst those entering these types of programmes, which does not bode well for our peers standing accused in front of 'the bench'. Some other concerns include a) That there are not enough de-tox and rehabilitation facilities for voluntary clients and that drug courts will stretch existing services to breaking point b) that

the people wishing to free themselves from drug habits may.see that the quickest way to treatment will be via criminal activity c) that should the offender 'fail' the treatment, they will . face extra penalties under legal sanctions as well as damage to their self-esteem that 'failing' the programme would entail, d) that a guilty plea is a necessary requirement of the proposal. Most importantly however, is that addiction cannot be 'cured' by the stark option of going into treatment and challenged not to relapse or lapse, both of which are a recognised part of the healing process in drug addiction. While it can be applauded that the government is seeking other ways to treat offending addicts, sending them to the same old rehabs and detox's that have failed so often in the past seems to imply just another band-aid on a festering sore.

In this regular feature we :vant to highlig~t t~e lives of particular individuals who, alongside their addiction to drugs, continued to create cultural masterpieces. For our first issue, lets wekome the granddaddy of drug dependant writing....... -

n an increasingly materialistic society where 'Icon' has become the first person singular of the verb 'to profit to the detriment of one's fellow man,' William Burroughs became and remained one of the cultural cornerstones of another America, a dark stirring vibrant culture that would assail and reinvent the twentieth century in its own image. Along with Kerouac and the recently departed Ginsberg, he has beco_me synonymous with the 'Beat Generation'. But uniquely, his influence extended well beyond the 'beatniks', so that even today, the counter-culture bears his mark and the mainstream, through a variety of forms, reflects his influence. Unlike most, he also chose not just to live 'on the edge', but to throw himself bodily over it. As a drug user- first arrested for possession nearly fifty years ago- his advice to his readers was unsurpassable. It is a repository of 'forbidden pleasures' and his first book, Junky (1953), is a photographic recreation of life on the needle. Anyone who reads it comes away more than aware of the terrors of addiction. Burroughs hid nothing from his readers: 'A junky runs on junk time. When his junk is cut off the dock nms down and stops. All he can do is hang on and wait for the non-junk time to start.. ... Junk sickness is the reverse side of the junk kick. You cannot escape from junk sickness anymore than you can escape from junk kick after a shot.' In many ways, Junky is akin to Primo Levi's If This is a Man, a document so burdened with the terrible truth of the human condition that it is both uplifting and depressing. It is a small piece of perfection, totally devoid of affectation or pretension. Junky, like all Burroughs' best work--- goes straight for the jugular (via the mainline?). The Naked Lunch (1959), is probably the most controversial work in the Burroughs canon. The title, suggested by Jack Kerouac, refers to just what it is impaled on the fork feeding your physical needs. Need: addiction- dependence- sex- power (and its structures). Collected in dribbles and slabs by Buroughs's bum-chum, Allen Ginsberg , it is a truely extraordinary journey. The best of the rest? Read 'em yourself and find out. Oh, Ok then,

for me, Cities of the Red Night, (Pub 1991) is a tale oflibertarian pirates prowling the Caribbean in the golden age of piracy, which gives a glimpse at an escape from the physical torment as envisaged by the author. Queer, released in 1985 is stylistically far closer to Junky than Burrough's other work as it was written just after. It's a shame that it languished for so many years unseen as it is far more than an auto biographical travelogue- it's about loneliness, alienation, love and is a more tender yet less cynical piece than Burroughs would produce again. Burroughs' own experiences reappear again and again in his fiction, His characters are one dimensional, with no explanation or justification for their actions. His doctors are junk hungry Frankensteins. His judges hand down sentences with comforting aphorisms such as "If you can't be just, be arbitrary". His policemen are gangsters (and sometimes junkies), desperate for convictions and confessions. He had particular contempt for psychiatrists, who were portrayed as parasites sucking rebellion and individuality out of those deemed fit for their particular services. The great irony is that Burroughs' various addictions made him dependant on the very power structures which he despised. In Mexico City in 19 51 when, in a pivotal moment in his life, a botched a William Tell exhibition ended with Burroughs putting a hole through his 2nd wife's forehead. Jumping bail, he then begun a long nomadic existence for nearly quarter of a century, beginning in a male brothel in Tangiers and drifting between Paris, London, and America until he finally settled in New York in 1974. In 1981, after his sons death from liver failure, aged 33, Burroughs moved for the last time to Lawrence, Kansas, where he lived out his retirement with his guns and his cats. In his lifetime, which covered most of the 'great prohibition', Burroughs saw the slaughter of the drug wars and despised the hypocrisy they espoused. The main body of work which made his reputation, was written under the influence of heroin, opium, cannabis, speed, cocaine and alcohol. Ideally, Burroughs may have chosen sobriety, his work alludes to freeing himself constantlybut it also keeps telling us that it's not the drugs that screw you up- it's the people who are prepared to patronise coerce and imprison you back to conformity ... 6y (f ~ry S6'«tfo111

fact is, there never seems to be enough research into drugs for addiction cures, or pills to with the pains of withdrawals or experiments to discover different detox/rehab/ maintenance techniques etc. Britain spends only 13% of its annual drugs bill on treatment, with only a fraction go-

ing towards research. The leaps and bounds that have been

SAY WHAT????! Well, its supporters are claiming that Ibogaine could painlessly cure opiate addiction, stop one's desire to use drugs again and may even'be effective in treating cocaine, alcohol and tobacco addiction. HOW? Actually, it sounds like one heavy trip. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive alkoloid derived from the root of the African plant 'tabernanthe iboga'. Patients are administered with the drug and monitored throughout a 36 hour 'walking dream', where they experience incredible visions. Simplified, the visions are supposed to give you deep insights into yourself and your behaviour whilst normalising the brainwaves that had become abnormal through addiction. One is said to awake cured of the urge to take drugs and therapy is often implemented afterwards to help analyse one's thoughts and visions.

made in science this century - and we're still stuck with methadone, lofexidine and naltraxone implants! This regular column will attempt to dig out information on what's happening with drug research from around the world on including drugs for detox, for using, for side-effects, for cures and - most importantlyfor our health.

This issue we bring you detox major - league........ .

across Ibogaine in the '60s) is facing his own hurdles with his attempts to market a proprietary pharmaceutical Ibogaine preparation called 'Endabuse'. To think that an informal self help culture of addicts with no political power and no big industry connections, are halfway towards bringing a drug to the market (which can cost $20 - 50 million) is staggering and indicative of Lots of faith in the Ibogaine.

SO WHAT ABOUT BRITAIN AND THE REST OF THE WORLD? In Britain, as in most of the world, Ibogaine is simply not registered on classified drugs lists. As a result, treatment is available- at a price - across the world. A seven day hospital programme with Lotsof in Panama costs between $8000-$20 000. Dr Mash runs a 14 day programme in St Kitts for $10,000 and Eric Taub, another devout Ibogaine advocate has clinics in Costa Rica and Italy, offering treatment starting at $2000. Despite Ibogaine being MUST BE SOME TRIP!! Yeah. People classed under the hard drugs category in the U.S have reported seeing some seriously amazing (1970 Controlled Substances Act) the research is things. Although most reports of the experi- --~-----""------'· continuing. ence and cure have been favourable, (many are posted on the internet.) there are those who have had a 'bad trip'. One 'alcoIS IT WORTH TRYING? Without therapy, one in eight paholic' reported, "Ibogaine worked for me for a month because it tients are totally cured. Studies have shown that about 80% of pamakes you so physically sick you can't even stand the thought of tients treated with lbogaine remain drug free from three to six eating, much less drinking ...... the visions were excruciating". The months, while about 10% remain drug free for .two years and antrouble is that although more than 4000 research papers have other 10% remain drug free for only 2 weeks. There is an indicabeen written on this subject only 300 people have undergone tion that intermittent treatment may be required if a users longtreatment with Ibogaine this decade - too few on which to base term goal is abstinence. Obviously, more research needs to be serious research. done and at the moment patients are basically paying fortunes to be guinea pigs. Whether the big companies will back a drug that SO WHERE ARE THE DRUG COMPANIES ON THIS? stops people taking other drugs, remains to be seen. It does howThe F.D.A. (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) gave the go ever, deserve to be given serious research .into its potential as a ahead for human testing and the D.E.A. (we know who they are!) treatment alternative. User groups in the Netherlands and New are co-operating. However, that work should have been comYork have successfully initiated trials to investigate Ibogaines pleted by now. The fact that there has been a legal dispute going use in dependency treatment. If user groups here can successfully on between lbogaine's two most fervent campaigners, Howard lobby their local M.Ps, we can make research into lbogaine therLotsof and Dr Deborah Mash has not helped matters. There is apy a reality in Britain. We will keep you posted about lbogaine also talk of a 'Methadone Mafia' firmly entrenched in the scienand its progress ....... . tific-medical community and resistance to new technology by the old guard. Howard Lotsof, himself a former drug user (cured of his own heroin and coke addiction after accidentally stumbling 7

I communities.

5cape'goat, n. 1. )n Ancient Hebrew ritual, as outlined in Leviticus, xvi, 10, a goat upon which the high priest on the Da_l:i of Atonement S_l:Jmbolicall_l:j transferred the sins of the people, and which he then allowed to escape into the desert. 2. Hence, a person who, or thing which, bears the

blame for others .... Sam Friedman is an academic writer on drng user activism from the U.S.A. rug users are being scapegoated. The world economic system has been going through a period in which corporations have faced serious problems since the 1980s. This has lead to lay-offs, pressures to reduce government programmes and budgets and a general attack on the lives of working class people and communities. For the powerful, it poses a major political problem: How to keep their power rather than being overthrown the way the rulers of Eastern Europe were a few years back. Part of their solution is to 'divide and rule' through the scapegoating of particular

( Statistics from Prisoners Abroad, Aug 1998)

AUSTRALIA ................ 31 JAMAICA...................... 14 BRAZIL ........................ 20 MOROCCO ................... 30 CANADA...................... 18 NETHERLANDS ........... 30 FRANCE. .................... 226 PAKISTAN..................... 19 GERMANY ................... 52 PORTUGAL .................. 18 INDIA........................... 19 SPAIN........................... 161 INDONESIA ................... 2 TANZANIA ..................... 21 IRELAND ...................... 36 TURKEY .......................... 8 ITALY ........................... 11 U.S.A .............................. 162 OTHERS ....................... 202 TOTAL......................... 1080 68% of these prisoners are held because of drng offences. 272 PEOPLE HELD FOR 'SOFT DRUGS' 214 PEOPLE HELD FOR 'HARD DRUGS'. The numbers of prisoners listed in the table above are those who are connected to Prisoners Abroad. The Home Office estimates the actual figures to be around 2000. Prisoners Abroad make no moral judgements, they help the convicted and unconvicted, guilty or innocent. They provide information, advice and support for the families and friends of those held overseas as well as prisoners, both abroad and upon return to Britain. If you would like to support Prisoners Abroad (perhaps becoming a penpal to someone in a foreign jail) you can contact them on 0171 833 3467...

In the United States, major scapegoating of African Americans, Latinos and women, has been one obvious form this has taken, the scapegoating of drug users is another and one that conveniently interweaves racism and sexism to prevent a working class revolt or other mass resistance. Similar patterns are played out in different ways in other countries, the extent which drug users are scapegoated being affected by the availability of other targets for scapegoating and the extent to which the powerful believe they need to divide and distract. This has presented many problems for drug users, with hatred against them being official policy and the staple fare in the mass media. Hundreds of thousands of users have been gaoled. For both drug users' organisations and the efforts for harm reduction, this situation poses many dilemmas. If "drug-related harm" is useful to many of the most powerful institutions and persons in society - as a way to foster division and make it easier to cut back on the lives of the working class - it is then necessary for drug users and harm reductionists to consider what activities and alliances can help move us ahead and defeat the scapegoating and its negative consequences. One example of the harm scapegoating does to drug users and those around them is that it has, made it harder to organise appropriate responses to health threats such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Drug users are usually treated as incompetent at best, self-destructive and dangerous at worst. Thus, even many 'good' programmes of AIDS prevention or drug treatment, set up advisory groups to consult users' views rather. than encouraging users to have real influence or power in their programmes. The concept of user activism is seen as absurd (since users are viewed as incompetent) and when users nonetheless organise for hann reduction, this is sometimes seen as threatening even by well-meaning prograimne heads. Drug user activism and organising has taken place in many countries - to some degree, even in the United States in the face of intense repression of drug users. We must discuss what can be learned from the experiences in many such countries around the world, and how these ideas might help organising in the United Kingdom. Sam Friedmann 1997

In this regular column, we will attempt to bring you useful, relevant or interesting information on drugs, the law and you. We will be covering such things as the scheduling and classifying of drugs, the law as it pertains to particular drugs, and the histories behind the worlds prohibition laws on drugs. We would welcome contributions from people or ideas on what topics you would like us to cover. This issue, we are starting with your rights concerning the laws of arrest, house and body searches and how to proceed with a complaint. This information has been gathered from RELEASE. It can be obtainable in the form of a wallet sized 'BUST CARD', very

handy to keep in your pocket. These cards are supposed to be given out at Police stations on arrest or detainment, so make sure you ask for one. They can also be collected from some needle exchanges such as the Caravan or direct from RELEASE. For further information and help in dealing with the Police, the courts or drug problems, contact RELEASE on: ADVICE LINE 0171 729 9904 lOam - 6pm Mon to Fri.

EMERGENCY HELPLINE 0171 603 8654 At all other times.

+ If YOU ARE STOPPED BY POLICE ON THE

STREET and they are not in uniform then ask to see their warrant card, ask why you have been stopped and at the end ask for a record of the search. You can be stopped and searched if the police have reasonable suspicion that you are in possession of: Controlled drugs, offensive weapons or firearms, carrying a sharp article, carrying stolen goods, if you are in a coach or train, going to, or you have arrived at, a sports stadium

If the police fear there might be serious violence in a particular area they can stop and search anyone in that area for up to 24hrs. In these circumstances the police do not need to have a reasonable suspicion that you are carrying a weapon or committing a crime. This very wide power can be used at raves, demonstrations etc.

REMEMBER Do not panic, try to keep calm. The police sometimes keep you isolated and waiting in the cell to 'soften you up'. The police can only keep you for a certain period of time - normally a maximum of24 hours ( 36 hours for a serious arrestable offence). Ensure the correct time for your arrest is on the custody record, Make sure you know why)ou have been arrested. Insist on a solicitor. Ask them to be present when you are interviewed/Donot be put off seeing a solicitor, It is your right, and it's free. If you ask for anything and it is refused make sure this is written down on the custodytecord; You do not have to say anything to the police. BUT if you are later charged with a crime and. you have not meµtioned, when questioned, something that you later rely on in court, then this may be taken info ~ccount when\:leciding if you are guilty. There may be good reasons why you do not wish to say anything to the police, and you should not be intimidated into answering questions. Get a solicitor down to see you in the police station as soon as possible. There is no .such thing as a 'friendly chat' to sort things out Anything you say can later be used against you. THINK BEFORE YOU TALK. WHEN THE POLICE GET IT WRONG If you want to challenge anything the police have done then get the names and addresses of any witnesses, make a written record as soon as possible after the event. It should be witnessed, dated and signed. If you are injured, or property is damaged, then take photographs or video recordings as soon as possible and have physical injuries medically examined. If you have been treated unfairly then complain to a civil liberties group such as Release or contact a solicitor about possible legal action.

IN THE POLICE STATION

+ + + + + + +

You always have the right: To be treated humanely and with respect. To see the written codes governing your rights and how you are treated. To speak to the custody officer. You also have the right (but they can in rare situations be delayed) to have someone notified of your arrest (Mt to make a 'phone call yourself) To consult with a solicitor privately. The police can search premises with the consent of the occupier.

The police can search premises with the consent of the occupier.

+ A warrant can be obtained from magistrates by the police to search

premises for evidence of certain crimes. The police can enter premises WITHOUT a search warrant in many situations, including: Following an arrest, the police are allowed to search premises the detained person occupies or has control over. To capture an escaped prisoner, To arrest someone for an arrest ble · qf:fence or certain public order of offences, To protect life or to stop sedous damage to property. Other laws give police specific powers to enter premises.

The politicians, the hospitals, the media, the community, go on discussing 'addicts' in the same horrible and negative language used help to structure a world in which drug users are assigned to a subordinate and almost dehumanized position - a position that allows them no voice in their own treatment; no voice in policy development; no voice in how the press behave; no voice in how drug educators educate. In short, no personal narrative.

and ignore death health problems drug users.

ever rising amongst

Dtu9 users qre ;:issi9ned to q position thqt q!lows

My daughter has been using heroin for approximately 14 years. She has been Hepatitis C (HCV) positive since 1989 and was diagnosed HIV seropositive in 1995. Much of that time as a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer, I have had to stand by and hear her (and her friends) described by my colleagues- and by the outside community- in all the derogatory terms commonly used to describe addicts. I have watched as her health issues have been misdiagnosed or ignored; watched as she has been shunted from mainstream medicine to drug dependency clinics and back again, and watched as the full impact of the unavailability, prejudice and illegality of heroin has helped destroy her health and push her to the brink of despair. Such blatant and cruel discrimination and its sad consequences continually shock and appalls me. By corralling, labelling and punishing our young in this way, we enter into an intractable mind set which does nothing for ourselves, our society, or for our understanding of the drug issue in all its complexity. There seems no reason except fear and prejudice to keep insisting on the addicts 'differentness', on their separation, as if their label makes them one thing and as if that was all human life was about. As Edward W. Said noted in his book Culture and Imperialism (1993);

Survival, in fact, is about the connection between things .... it is more rewarding and more to think concretely and sympathetically about others, than only about us. This means not trying to rule others and not trying to classify them them in hierarchies, otherwise we would remain committed more to the exclusions and reactions ofprejudice than committed to the freedom of real knowledge. But unfortunately, we have already created an image of heroin and drug addicts and constructed a discourse that purposely evades open analysis and in doing so have satisfied our own inadequacies and fear. We have handed concentrated, in fact supreme power to the psychiatric model of health, the Home Office, the Police, with their enforced treatments and legal sanctions and deprived drug users of all their civil liberties. As one Home Office official said in 1982 - and it remains the same today; 'Addicts have no rights simply because they are addicts', (frebach, The Heroin Solution, 1982).

them no voice in their own i:reqtment; no voice in policy development; no voice in how the press behcive; no voice in how dru9 ec\uccitors ec\ucqte. In short, no personcil ncin-citive.

Yet heroin itself is a relatively benign drug - especially when compared to many others. Our stubborn refusal to browse through the scientific literature in a calm and rational way should be questioned. It has nowhere near the costs of socially acceptable alcohol abuse, yet the word provokes hysteria. It is reviled. Just as the people who use it are reviled. That is, the visible people who are to poor to buy it legally and end up stealing, becoming ill and are eventually seen on the streets and in our prisons. Many drug workers, doctors and so on, advise parents to throw their children out once they have discovered they are on drugs (part of the rock bottom/tough love fallacy). For the majority, this is a callous and tragic solution that has no evidence base. It breaks down the family, drives the drug user further fro~ the mainstream into their own cultures and deeper into their addiction. This, of course, further compounds the problem, because drug users are not a homogenous group. They come from many different backgrounds and they start taking drugs for many different reasons - some of them social (just like people begin to drink alcohol or smoke nicotine); some of them from social disaffection (homelessness and poverty); some from curiosity or availability and yes, sometimes to fill a need within themselves. They are individuals. Individuals who made a choice, one might say. Yet I wonder how many of those young people would have knowingly chosen heroin or some other substance if they were completely cognizant of the facts or if they knew they were destined to become society's outcasts? And perhaps, worse still, if they fully realized that that same society would never allow them re-entry with their selfrespect and dignity intact?

Words like choice, fear, bigotry, hypocrisy, misrepresentation, all need our analysis. The dialectic between representation and reality. The politics of exclusion. Our fears about drugs; of HIV; of 'differentness'. The very middleclassness of our discourse about health. For example, let us just take the word choice - a revered hallmark of democratic consumerism. We promote it as it implies freedom; reason; having all the facts and choosing between them; knowing all the consequences of your choice. Yet choice is as much deceptive and capricious as it is merely free, and it casts a very long shadow. It is interdependent, socially rooted, and it future is, at best, uncertain. Grappling with such concepts is not easy, and the human mind dislikes not being able to understaqd and deal with situations beyond its comprehension and experience. Unfortunately, it is then we fill the lmowledge gap with oi,ir own preconceptions, limited attitudes and ideas.

So, nothing is straightforward, especially in the field of drugs and there' is no better time to be asking new questions, as even a cursory enquiry into our current policies on the treatment of 'drug abuse' reveals the absolute poverty of our past methods and ideas and quickly reaches the firm conclusion that the present system of sanctions, backed up by punitive treatment regimes, is unsustainable in moral, ethical, scientific and economic terms.

'\...'

ra s

It is the time to question the medical profession and its claims to authority based on rather dubious and esoteric knowledge and exclusivity. As Turner (1987) pointed out in his book Medical

Oppressing people is no answer to anything and plays no role in treatments of any kind. By all means, let us examine drug use and its costs. But let us include, amongst the headings, alcohol, prescribed drugs, nicotine and so on. And then let us ask the honest questions, whilst refraining from the inflammatory, lacerative language we now use to describe the 'illicit' drug scene. Ifwe can become less hysterical and more reflective, we may be able to analyze our own proclivities and be able to ask the question - Why as a society have we become drug dependant.

Power and Social Knowledge -

Now, it is with restrained anger and anguish that I try to help my daugh'~Row does one tell others wh<Jt it me<Jns to be ter fight prejudice on all fronts. cfying of AIDS in silence? The m<Jn cfying of Getting through this barrier to access health care is intolerably AIDS is spoken of- he qoes not spe<Jk" stressful because she is seen primarily as an injecting drug user. What Tt'<Jgic<Jlly, l h<Jve to <lctct, the cf rug user dying of this obscures is a complete person - intelligent, young, often ill, Al DS Is not even spoken of trying to live courageously with Treatment centres, like the NHS HIV and HEP C. But there is little Drug Dependency Units, are places ofl::====================I compassion. And all I can do is to reprehensible attitudes and unbridled, be there and help her insist on her right to be treated as an unregulated power for the employee - psychiatrists and psychiindividual. Fear is certainly blinding. It doesn't like reason. It atric nurses - and humiliation and powerlessness for the drug doesn't like truth. It silences families who have addicted users. The compulsory therapy breeches every tenet of the children. It prevented my daughter's partner from telling her he therapeutic relationship. The negative effects for the client of had HIV. It keeps us silent and promote's a dangerous ignorance. this inequity and the internalization of the perceived and felt As Susan Sontag (1990) said in her essay about AIDS The wcy powerlessness is psychologically well documented. There is no we live now social or medical equality for drug users. They are forced to live within an unholy alliance, dependant on programmes that most But how does one fight armored with silence? How does one often have little sympathy or understanding of their chemical/ tell others what it means to be dying of AIDS in silence? The biological dependence and certainly it seems, very little concern man dying ofAIDS is spoken of- he does not speak ...... . for their overall health. They are never patients or clients. Only 'not to be trusted' junkies. They are the non deserving. The Tragically, I have to add, the drug user dying of AIDS is not self inflicting. even spoken of What we now need is the courage and creativity to develop a The appalling discrepancies, the abuse of power and the lack of new paradigm - one that excludes the language of prejudice, a firm research base exists alongside minimal accountability and neglect and punishment and actively encourages and embraces negative attitudes, all hindering the prospect of developing more the voices of those addicted. It is time. humane, holistic and respectful treatment and care. This is largely because we, as a society, tum our heads away. I would further suggest therefore, that where there is a drugs war, it's a Wend!:J 0'Mara ]').A (E_d) D.R.C. R.egistered fs!:Jchologist war of bigotry, hypocrisy and vested interests and the casualties E._-mail: wend~_omara@_yahoo.com in that war are our children. It has become apparent that rather than social responsibil{ty and an ethic of service, some 1 members of the medical profession have used their powerful position to exert inappropriate social control over areas of vulnerable peoples lives.

A JUNKY LIBERATION FRONT

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

Allen Ginsberg, potsmoker, acidhead, speed freak, pro communist, anti - Vietnam war protester, Jewish mosexual, is one of Americas most famous post-modernist poets was a leader of Beat and Acid movements the early 1960's. In this extract from an interview he had Young "Gay shine," he had the following words say.... "If you can have gay liberation from the oppression of the macho oppressors, then you can have a junkie

jf ,

nobody likes to suffer, and given the choice of detox. most of us addicts would want to have it our way. For me, even the thought of going 'cold turkey' was enough to keep me out there using. I'd tried quitting many times, with different methods but always reswned using again eventually; which didn't help my feelings of hopelessness and despair. By May this year, I was physically, emotionally and spiritually bankrupt from the progression of my addiction and hadn't got a lot of life left in me. I knew I needed help and was admitted to residential treatment which included a detox. I got the shock of my life when I found out I couldn't take their usual method of detox. because my blood pressure was dangerously low and I had to face coming off methadone with NOTHING. I guess the mere thought of that should of been enough to make me run out the door, but I had reached a state of desperation and I knew if I walked out I'd not get far. I'm not going to pretend it wasn't that bad. It was hell. I couldn't understand why the medical staff were being so cruel either. I begged and tried to argue my case for sleepers but they wouldn't have it and I resented them because I felt they were treating me as worthless junkie. After about my eleventh night of no sleep I was told by the nurse that "I must have had some sleep otherwise I wouldn't be able to hold a conversation with him." I was even more resentful that my room mate , who was in for alcohol was getting Librium each night even though I had

liberation from the oppression of the macho Mafi CIA, fuzz, AMA, the Truman-Nixon oppression c punitive treatment of junkie illness rather than medic' treatment. There should be a Junkie Liberation Front, They're the most oppressed group in America, the sense that they're down like dogs people with guns. They're always under threat They're sick. They've got a illness and they' re not being treated with legitimate cal means. They've suffered greatest image distortion any group in America. There was never a category of human being in America was invented as low as the fiend category for addicts. And they're the victims of slander. They're called a criminal class, violent murderers when they're not." Ab.ridged from THE LIVING DAYLIGHT Oct 30 - Nov 5, 1973

come in for alcohol as well as drugs. There seemed to be a definite discrepancy in the way people were treated depending on what they were in for and 'who was paying'. However, despite my feelings of injustice I stuck it out. It seemed like an eternity but I persevered through each day and night and it did get better. I did eventually sleep through the night, and I began to feel like a new person; I'd put on weight and started to smile. But I knew I never wanted to go through that again.

I feel concerned at the way addicts are treated in the places that are supposed to understand and care and how for some, it could mean the difference between life and death.

Four months on, I'm still clean, with a whole new life in front o me. I work a programme daily and get support and inspiration from other recovering addicts. I feel concerned at the way addicts are treated in the places that are supposed to understand and care and how it could for some, make the difference between life and death. However, if I look on the positive side, two to three weeks of hell was a small price to pay for the rest of my life .

()

K, so magic mushroom season is upon us folks are gonna be out in pastures green, plucking mushrooms out of cow turds; boiling, chewing, smoking and baking them , tripping out and feeling at one with the world.... Unless of course, you pick the wrong mushroom and end vomiting your insides out on the way to the hospital.

Tips For Trips

Tl-Ii;. RIGHT i:;.NVIRONMi:;.NT As any experienced tripper will know, the environment you choose to trip in can have a real impact on the nature and 'feel' of your trip. Outdoors in the country or in a big lush park can create the sensation of being at one with nature whilst a trip taken indoors can be Mushrooms need to be treated with respect and more soul searching and reflective. NOTE; Try not to trip if although only a few are danger- -~----------------llllllllllllLyou are too stressed out - it could ously poisonous-even to the easily put a downer on your trip. point of being fatal, there are others that can make you grossly ill.

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As it stands, the possession of mushrooms and the consumption are legal. However the active ingredient of most hallucinogenic mushrooms PSILOCIN- is registered as a class A, lllr"~-Schedule 1 drug (1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.) So any attempt to separate this substance from the mush- . . . . . . .. room or any .deliberate alterations to the fungi rendering it fit for consumption (ie crushing, drying, mushroom tea etc) is an offence. What is actually admitted to the police can make or break a prosecution, so if someone actually admits to crushing mushrooms, with the intention of consuming them- they can be prosecuted. However, if someone says they accidentally crushed the mushrooms, or mistakenly left them out to dry, could possibly avoid a prosecution. NOTEIf you have any worries on this score, you can ring RELEASE who are up on the latest drug laws.

It's always best to try a very small even half a mushroom, just to be sure it's not on the amount to eat is extremely hard to drug content in each mushroom can vary the age of the mushroom, its location aml the soil and weather conditions. So be careful !

DON'T GO AlONi:;. Having someone with you is important for a few reasons;

+ In case you become ill from picking the wrong mushroom. + So someone can 'bring you down' if you're having a bad trip (soothing voices, calm environment, getting rid of any aggravation or stress factors can help). + It makes for a much better trip if you're surrounded by good friends who you can trust. Gi:;.T A GU!Di:;.

Although there are about 3000 species of fungi in Britain, the fact that some are poisonous means yon need to be extremely sure of what you're eating. The best idea by far, is to take an experienced mushroom identifier with you. Once you've seen one for yourself, it'll be much easier to identify it correctly next time. Get yourself a good mushroom guide, there's an oldie but goodie by Hassle Free Press called "A Guide to British Psyocibin Mushrooms", available from Hassle Free, BCM Box 311 LONDON WC1, or you can write to us here and we'll send you out some information.

POISONf NG Symptoms of mushroom poisoning may become apparent anywhere from 20 min, to 40 hours after con. sumption. The later the effects come on, the more serious it can be. Remember -since mushrooms are legal, there's no problem calling a doctor but try to take a sample of the mushroom, or the m persons vomit or shit - despite being gross it will help doctors identify on. Thanks to RELEASE and HASSLE FREE for literature

With so many of us now testing HEP C positive, liver function tests, biopsies, ultrasounds and Interferon are words that are continually cropping up. Trying to sift through all the available information can be very difficult, especially when you can hear such conflicting views; liver biopsy's are excruciatingly painful - no, they don't hurt a bit, Interferon was great, my viral load is undetectable now - God it was terrible, vomited constantly and still it did nothing, etc. What is apparent however, is that drug users don't always get the medical attention they need. Getting overlooked, sent away, ignored, or superficially treated is unfortunately not unusual. BUT, while your peers activate and agitate for better health care for an drug users, there is something you can do. You know the saying 'Knowledge is power?' Learning a bit about how your liver works, what it needs to function well and understanding what your results actually mean to you, allows you to be a bit more forearmed when treatment decisions come your way. For our first issue, we thought we should start with deciphering the liver function test. It is usually the first test you wm have when information about your liver is required. It is helpful to understand these results and by comparing them over time you may be able to find out whether lifestyle changes are benefiting (or not) your liver.

!HE ROLE OF !HE LIVER The role of the liver is to keep the body's complex internal chemistry in balance. It takes raw nutrients from our digestive system (in the form of carbohydrates, so they can be stored and sent to different parts of our body in the right form and quantity. The liver regulates the level of sugars in our blood and manufactures bile (which breaks down fats in our stomach). It also helps remove toxins, drugs and hormones from our bloodstream. This brief explanation does the liver little justice it actually carries out over 1,500 complex biochemical functions. Perhaps it is because the liver is so important, that up to a certain point, like a lizard's tail, it can rejuvenate itself.

People reading this should keep in mind that abnormalities within liver tests don't necessarily point to specific diseases. Only a physician who knows all the aspects of a specific case can reliably make a diagnosis. So what are the substances measured in an LFT blood test and what is so important about them?

Total protein Is simply a combined measure of the concentrations of proteins in the blood. This information can provide clues to several diagnostic possibilities. There are two major types of protein: albumin and globulin.

Albumin Provides a gauge of nutritional status. Can be reduced due to liver damage and kidney disease. Because albumin is made in the liver, levels tend to drop with cirrhosis.

Globulin WHAT ARE LIVER FUNCTION TESTS?

A liver function test (LFT) is a blood test that gives an indication of whether the liver is functioning properly. The test is also very useful to see if there is active damage in the liver (hepatitis) or sluggish bile flow (cholestasis). Liver function tests measure the amount of particular chemicals in the blood. This gives a gauge of possible damage to liver cells- damage that can be caused by many things including HCV. So a more correct term for a liver test would actually be a liver dysfunction test. It's important to remember that diagnosis of liver disease depends on a combination of patient history, physical examination, laboratory testing, biopsy and sometimes imaging studies such as ultrasound scans1.' Diagnosis of hepatitis C usually also involves antibody tests or PCR tests.

Describes the specific level of globulin's - which include antibodies. This measure can be raised when liver cells are damaged due to autoimmune liver damage or to long standing liver disease of many types, particularly when cirrhosis exists.

Bilirubin Is a by-product of the yellowish pigment responsible for jaundice. Bilirubin levels can be raised due to Diseases, as well as conditions other than liver disease, e.g. Gallstones. In cases of long term liver illness (chronic hepatitis), the level usually stays within the normal range until significant liver damage has occurred and cirrhosis is present. In cases of short term liver illness (acute hepatitis), elevated Bilirubin levels indicate the severity of the acute illness.

GGI

Platelet count

Is an enzyme produced in bile ducts that may be raised due to bile duct illness. The GGT test is extremely sensitive and may be elevated due to any type of liver disease or by different drugs, including alcohol, even when liver disease is minimal. GGT levels sometimes rise even in the case of a normally functioning liver.

Platelets are the smallest of all blood cells and are involved in promoting clotting of the blood.- normally a process of healing. In cases of chronic liver disease where cirrhosis exists, the platelet count can be lowered- although this· can occur due to many conditions other than liver disease.

Alk phos Refers to Alkaline Phosphatase, a family of enzymes produced in the bile ducts, intestine, kidneys, placenta and bones. These levels may rise when a disease of the bile ducts or bone disorder occurs.

ALT Is an enzyme produced in hepatocytes (the major type of liver cells) . ALT level in the blood is increased when hepatocytes are damaged or die- all types of hepatitis (viral, alcoholic, drug induced etc) cause hepatocyte damage. Levels of ALT may equate to the degree of cell damage but this is not always the case, particularly with hepatitis C. An estimate of cell damage can only be made by liver biopsy.

AST Is similar to ALT above, but less specific for liver disease because it is also produced in body muscle cells. It does tend to be higher than ALT in cases of alcoho 1related liver disease. (Aust. Hep C Review Aug 98)

There are an estimated 200 000 to 400 000 Hepatitis Cpositive people in Britain and a possible global infection

rate of 170 000 000 people. (Mainliners 98)

Adult range or normal range This figure allows you to compare your various LFT readings with what is considered to be normal ( these figures will vary slightly for each laboratory). As shown in our sample LFT result, David Browns ALT reading of 108 would be over twice the pathology labs upper normal range of 45. Accessing your medical records'? Your rights? Well you do have the right to see your medical records (as passed in the 1990 Access to Health Records Act, backed by the BMA), allowing patients to see their reco'rds ON THE CONDITION that it won't harm their mental or physical health. Patients, including children, can ask to see any records made after November 1, 1991, and to have them explained if they are illegible. The process should take a maximum of 40 days(!) and health authorities are allowed to charge £10 plus the cost of copying and sending the records. HOWEVER, for drug users the situation can be a little different. If it is the doctor who writes your scripts who you are asking for your notes, you may well worry that they may take this as an affront, and that you could rock the boat. Yes, sigh, this can be the reality. If so, perhaps it is worthwhile going to a liver specialist (who you should be referred to anyway), keeping things separate from your script. If you have a good relationship with your doctor, why not ask him/ her to show/explain your liver function results, or just ask for a photocopy so you can keep your own records. REMEMBER, the health authorities have an obligation to provide information on request in accordance with 1995 Gov. Code of Practice on Openness. Frankly, they need to have a very good reason to refuse you access to your records. It really is time we got used to taking some of our control back.

Smithville Pathology (Re istered Patholo

Number) 01-Sept-98

To: (R)-This is the: 'nor-.

DR "Smith" The Practice London

ma! adult' range where you compare your results (L), against. Ideally, you want to have nnm• hers comfortably ose to tbes rang

>h Collection Date: 29 - Aug - 97

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Liver Function Tests

"Mr Jones"

D.O.B 24- Sept- 54 Age: 40 years (MALE)

Adult 95% Range

Total Protiein

g/l

(66-82)

Albumin

g/l

(35-50)

pie

Globulin

g/l

(< 35)

Bilirubin

umol/1

(< 20)

'ill kn

GGT

lu/1

(< 50)

Alk. Phos.

lull

(< 125)

Alt (GPT)

108

lull

(<45)

AST (GOT)

lu/1

(< 50)

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bcesses are something most of us have encountered before and they can be excruciatingly painful. Sympathetic medical care can be hard to come by for many of us and so some resort to treating themselves. This can lead to some serious complications as the toxicity of an abcess can vary considerably. Here are a few things to remember when it comes to getting to grips with an abcess ........... .

Abcesses present themselves as raised lumps on the skin and can either be sterile or infected. A sterile abcess is caused by injecting either an irritating or insoluble substance into a vein - particularly so if you miss it. They may develop slowly and not usually show signs of heat although there may be a touch of redness. They feel like solid nodules under the skin and are not sore to the touch. Don't try to squeeze it as it will usually go away in its own time ( although this can take quite a while.)

An infected abcess, on the other hand, is a different story. Caused by either using non-sterile injecting equipment or by bacteria entering through your hit that the body cannot fight, an infected abcess will soon come up as a swollen lump on or near the injection site. Appearing inflamed and red, they feel hot to the touch and soon become very painful. The abcess may come to a 'head' or 'point' and be filled with pus. It can be tempting to squeeze or burst it now - but DON'T! This will only spread the infection ..

If you want to know what inside your abcess - here's a little insight. The abcess is actually a cavity under the skin, filled with many little 'walls' that contain the pus. The pus itself contains blood, white blood cells (for fighting infection), damaged or dead tissue and bacteria. Some of this bacteria can still be 'live' which is why squeezing, poking about etc, can easily spread the infection. Your body has made this cavity in an attempt to localise the infection so it won't spread. An infected abcess won't go away on it's own, you really need to seek medical treatment.

find a safe, quiet place where you can have your hit~ having to hurrying is a sure fire way to miss that vein AND screw up your buzz.

TREATMENT In the early stages you may be given antibiotics to clear it up. Or if necessary, if a head has developed on the abcess, a doctor will lance it and drain out the pus. The resulting hole should be thoroughly cleaned out, using prescription only agents and then packed. This is done so the wound will heal from the bottom up, otherwise the skin will just close over the top, leaving bacteria inside and the whole thing will start over again. Antibiotics would also be given. Try and find a sympathetic doctor, go to A&E , or try the medic team at The Caravan.( It will be kept confidential and they can help with wound dressings, teaching you how to do them yourself at home.) The fear of going to your D.D.U with an abcess, or to A&E, because of the effect it could have on your script being changed, is unfortunately a real one. But you must get advice and treatment - no matter whatbecause if left untreated, an abscess can lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can be fatal, cellulitis ( a very painful infection of the surrounding tissue) and other complications. All this will put extra pressure on your immune system - not what you want if you are HIV or Hep C positive. Really, you don't have to end up with huge circular scars on your body. As the 'drugs war' rages on, the ricocheting effects continue to reverberate around the drug using community. Abcesses have become our battle scars. If you are concerned about your scars there are camouflage creams available to conceal them - you can ask for a referral from a doctor to a clinic that will guide you in their use or come into The Caravan, where you can also receive a referral - and help with the creams application.

l.J.\.'l'ES'I' INl10 ONUse new equipment - sterile water, works, swabs etc. Wash your hands before and after your fix- try and make this a habit. ( Actually, there is some debate about using swabs- check out the pull out guide ). Try and use only surgical cotton wool because it is made up of fibres that won't separate - unlike cotton wool, cigarette filters, tissue etc. Not only can loose fibres from these get trapped under the skin and cause an abcess , but they can also travel along your veins and cause blockages and infection in some seriously dangerous places - like your heart. This can be an extremely painful experience but fortunately, is not too common. There has been some very 'dirty' heroin going around lately, so be sure to use a good size filter and try not to miss the vein. Seconal are notorious for causing abcesses. Usually an abcess can be guaranteed if you miss a vein shooting this so BE CAREFUL. If any gear looks suspect to you, consider other ways of taking it such as snorting, smoking or swallowing. Don't skin pop with suss gear. Speed and coke are particularly irritant to your veins and tissues, so if you can bear it- try smoking or snorting it instead. You know, you don't have to be left with big circular scars from an abcess anymore as long as you get treatment in time. However, there are ways to disguise them. A specialist wound care nurse is available for confidential advice, support and care at the Caravan- daily, Mon to Fri, 2-5pm. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY. Make sure you check out the pull -out guide on tips for better /safer injecting techniques.

bleach or not to bleach' The original 2x2x2 (rinse, bleach, rinse) message was developed in response to

HJV ]twas originall,1:) thought to be effective tor disinfecting hepatitis C tram works as well. Several ,1:Jears on however, it has been discovered that the effectiveness ot bleach against hepatitis

was, and is, still unknown.

It is difficult to test this because Hepatitis C cannot yet be grown in a laboratory and researched properly. It should be pointed out here though that cleaning with bleach as described in the processes below does prevent the spread of HIV and Hep B and is very likely to significantly reduce the risk of Hepatitis C transmission. To prevent the spread of Hepatitis C, nothing is guaranteed except using new equipment for every hit, and avoiding the transference of blood from one person to another through swabs, water, filters, spoons, cups, tourniquets, hands, surfaces and other equipment used for injecting. Remember, it's blood that transmits viruses, not just equipment on it's own. That's why it's so important to concentrate on what is happening with any blood during the preparation and injection of your drugs and the disposal of equipment. Think about where the blood is going- your blood and that of your using partners. Remember though, if you already have Hep C or you can still become re-infected with a different strain from someone else. This could mean a more virulent, or drug resistant strain which could put even more pressure on your immune system.

If you must use a syringe that someone else has used

If your not in a position to soak your works, then flush

(this includes your partners and friends), attempt to disinfect a rinsed syringe by;

like this;

Take the rinsed syringe apart Soak it in bleach for at least 2 minutes Make sure the whole syringe is covered in bleach Rinse thoroughly by flushing with fresh cold water, at least twice.

Make sure that the bleach you have is full strength (5.25% hydrochloride), and that it has not passed its used by date. Some of the cheaper brands aren't strong enough and sometimes bottles can be left to sit on the supermarket shelf or in your cupboard until after the used by date, making them less effective. While it is good to rinse your works in full strength bleach, it is far more effective to soak them. The more time the bleach stays in contact with blood the more likely it is that viruses will be destroyed.

• 8

Flush the syringe out at least twice (the more the better) in clean, cold water. Make sure you get rid of any visible blood before bleaching. Fill the syringe with full strength bleach and shake it for at least 30 seconds (again, the longer you leave it the better). Do this at least twice, remembering to shake your works for at least 30 seconds each time. Use a watch, or count seconds with 'one thousand, two thousand,' etc. Flush the syringe out at least twice with a separate cup of cold water (not the same one you used to flush the syringe the first time as this will already be contaminated).

•

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had just picked up my script of Ritalin and physepout of both the syringes, pull off the little rubber things and tone amps and from somewhere I'd got five Diconal swallow them and crush all the rest under the heel of my so I was looking forward to having a nice hit. I was shoe. Thank God I wasn't wearing trainers. I crush them till standing on the platform on Waterloo Station looking the plastic bits are reduced to tiny slivers. Then I have to up at the departure board for the next train to Woking in push the bolt home again and when I do I hear from outside, order to go and sign on for bail at the Police Station. There's 'You bastard, we'll get you.' 'No you fucking won't, you a train leaving in 15 minutes. Perfect! I can get on it and cunts. Have it up a tree all of you, you fuckers.' I lay down have a hit in the toilet before it leaves because I don't really on the floor on my stomach in the piss and dirt and filth with like trying to do it on a moving train. I go into the toilet and my feet jammed against the door so they can't get in and I get my usual fix together, 5 Rit and 5 Diconal. Just as the poked all the little bits of plastic through the ventilation grill buzz is coming on me I hear a woman's voice outside say, ' one by one as the holes were so small. Every so often I had to Here, John, there's someone in there having a fix. Get the jump up and push the bolt back home again. each time I did guard'. Then I hear someone, obviously John say 'Fuck the the police outside gave me a volley of abuse which I anguard . I'll get the police'. Oh plll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!lllllllll!llillllll!lllllllll!lllllllillil swered in spades 'Why no. The police is the last thing I don't you cunts fuck off and need, I was already on three lots leave me alone. Haven't you of bail and another nicking I can got anything better to do. do without. Why don't you go and nick a few nonces instead of hassling me, you fucking wankers?' Fuck off. Fuck off. Fuck off!!! Screaming and "Come on shouting I was getting Chris, we know really worked up.

it's you in there Eventually I managed to push everything, syringes, spikes and even the little bits of silver foil from the Ritalin through the ventilation grill so there was nothA ing in my possession to be nicked for and I began to couple of minutes later the train relax a little. I can still hear starts moving out of the station. the police outside the door Relief sweeps over me. Plod talking. I can't hear what couldn't have had time to get on they're saying as they're yet. Just then there's a banging now keeping their voices on the door and a voice saying, 'Come on out Chris. We know 111111111111111111111111111111111111111• down. I try and clean myself up as best I can in the circumstances. I've still got to it's you in there and when you do come out, you're nicked'. sign on for bail and I've got all these dirty pissy marks down Like fuck I am'. I reply, 'I'm not coming out. If you wanna the front of my shirt as a result of lying on the toilet floor nick me you're gonna have to come in here and do it. All you and I look a mess. I stand with my back to the window cunts can fuck off'. A wave of panic engulfs me. I've got two facing the door waiting for the police to come in and arrest Sml works to get rid of plus the Rit blister packs. Then I hear plod say, 'Can you turn the water off in there'? They me. Nothing. must be talking to the guard, I think. 'Yes', another voice reThe train starts slowing down as it's pulling into Woking torts. I try the taps-nothing. There's no water in the toilet station. It stops and I don't have any choice' I've got to get bowl and there aren't any windows to throw anything off the train to go and sign on. I gather myself together the out of. What the fuck am I gonna do now? I really don't best I can knowing that they're out there just waiting for wanna get nicked again. Not for something as trivial as me to get off the train. They know who I am and, I guess, this, anyway. where I'm going. I open the door and walk out into the corridor and there was no-one there!!! It was all in my head. One of the cops says, 'Can you undo the lock or get it off That was some hit alright. I'd imagined the whole episode. from out here'? 'Yes.' came the reply. I look at the bolt and sure enough, it's slowly being worked back so I jump to the door and slam the bolt back home. What am I gonna do. It's only a matter of time till they come in. Suddenly, like a light being switched on, an idea comes to me. I pull the plungers

and when you do come out you're nicked!"

By C.D

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Imagine it Colombian Forces came steaming up the Thames, bombed Buckingham Palace, sacked, raped and pillaged towns and cities along the.coast and then forced us to bu_y their cocaine. Opium smoking took off in China after the Spanish introduced the tobacco pipe, Dutch merchants recall seeing Chinese smoke opium as early as 1617. As a recreational habit the practice took off exponentially, due in part to the fact that opium's pain-killing action enabled the agricultural peasants to work much longer planting rice and head off starvation. However, the practice of opium smoking was made illegal in an edict passed by Emperor Vung Chen in 1729, but to no avail. British Far Eastern traders began, at the end of the 18th century, to ship opium from India to China, despite the ban, to trade with the Cantonese merchants for tea, which they brought back to England for the home population. The profits from the trade were enormous ...

British Far Eastern traders began to ship opium tram India to China, despite the ban, to trade with the Cantonese tor tea. Protits were enormous..... . The opium was processed at the East India Company's opium works at Patna or Varanasi and exported from Calcutta, having been sold in 'sealed' chests at auction. Each chest contained forty balls of opium and weighed 140 pounds. Under international pressure (due to the impressive profits being made), the auctions were opened up to foreign competition in 1834, mainly American. From 15 tons of opium imported in 1720 to 75 tons at the start of the East India Company's monopoly in 1773, the trade rose to 250 tons at the start of the 19th century exploding with the end of the monopoly and the growth in American competition to a staggering 2,555 tons in 1840. The wave of mass addiction that followed, unprecedented before or since in history. provoked a response from the Chinese mandarins. In June 1836 after debate between mandarins Hse NaiTsi (who argued to legalise the trade) and Chu Tsun (who believed it was time the Europeans were taught a lesson), the Emperor appointed mandarin Lin Tse- Hsu to investigate and enforce China's prohibition decision. On Lin's orders, workers seized and destroyed 15 000 chests containing 95 tons of opium including 10 tons belonging to an American firm, and arrested two English

opium traders. This action threatened British Far Eastern interests that England declared war, so vital was the exchange of opium for tea to the balance of payments. England sent 9 warships and 7000 troops, who captured Canton in May 1839. For two years the British forces advanced north, sacking China's major coastal cities. Forced to sue for peace in 1842 at Nanking, China gave up Hong Kong (returned to China only last year!) and paid an indemnity of 21 million dollars for the opium destroyed. However, the Chinese refused to repeal their law banning opium as the British wanted. The next 15 years marked the peak of the Chinese opium trade with illicit imports rising to 4 810 tons in 1858. Another war, known as the arrow war (1858-1858), or the Second Opium War, saw another Chinese defeat at the hands of British colonial forces and eventual surrender to the demands to legalise opium. Thoughts for the Millennium Men and women have always used drugs of one sort of another, for a whole variety of reasons, opium and it's derivatives are just one more on the list. In themselves, they are certainly no more, if not less, than any other mood altering substance, it is only their criminalisation which creates the desperate problems associated with opiate use today. The gangland culture of the 1920's Chicago, disappeared with the ending of alcohol prohibition only to resurface when the mob moved into drugs. It may be fair to assume that the present murderous crimewave would disappear if the law was repealed. It is not only hypocritical of society to outlaw substances we find foreign or distasteful, while leaving our chosen substances (alcohol and tobacco) not only marketed legally, but actively promoted, it has also proven to be a downright disaster. Through our misguided prohibition we have criminalised a large and growing section of our populations. The 'war on drugs' must be seen in the context of the civil war that is and ultimately we are all losers. By Adam Wallace

' f i tgt ca In

Q. into contact with a psychiatric ward when I asked at my D.D.U to do a detox (from methadone and Valium). I had never heard of the place really. All I knew was that a fella I went to school was in there (still is I think). When I was told that there were four beds for in-patient detox I thought, 'Well I may as well, I've got nothing to lose!' I got there with all my gear (clothes I mean) . Then I was searched. I was given a room on my own which was a result because every other bed was on a dorm. Blokes in one dorm, girls in another. The first day I arrived it seemed OK, I had my meth' and Valium, went to my room and just went to sleep. In the morning when I woke up there was a woman in her late 60's, stark naked, standing outside my room. Her name was Kate, so it turned out. She was standing there, crying her eyes out, saying 'I shouldn't be here should I?' So I came out of my room, which was bang opposite the office (all glass- the goldfish bowl we used to call it), and I asked the staff if they could help her, it was obvious that she was really upset. The head nurse, Sister Lasagne, then tells me to get back in my room and mind my own business, but its just not in my nature to ignore someone like that. After a while they told her to put on some clothes and she did. It turned out she said this every morning 'I shouldn't be here should I?' She asked me and all the other patients this question every day. So this is just the second day and already its painting a lovely picture. I thought, well, it can't get any worse, I mean, I didn't expect it to be a picnic- but I didn't expect the next three weeks to be a nightmare either. Anyway, it turns out I'm the only bloke in the detox beds, as I said earlier there are four beds, the other three are taken by girls. One of the girls had thrown herself out of a plate glass window. She was in a wheelchair covered in bandages and she said she didn't want to live anymore. After a week they took her down to the lock up ward. We never saw her again. The other two girls were alright, we used to have a laugh. By day three, I was bang in trouble, we all were. We had all come in a day or two of each other so you can imagine that by this time no-one was in a great mood. And with the withdrawals kicking in, the last thing we want is a bunch of schizophrenics poncing fags of you all the time (not that they got many mind) and talking bollocks (talk about GBH of the ears). I didn't sleep on my third night so me, Sally and Tara sat up all night in the T.V room. Every now and then someone would try and ponce a fag, or try and tell you there life story. To be honest,

I'm in no mood to listen and I said so in enough words. Sally and Tara would head off to bed at about 5 .30am to try and get some kip but on the whole they'd be back up again an hour later. I used to watch the telly all night. On day four or five, I was coming out of my room and was walking down the corridor. I thought I saw someone standing on top of the toilet seat with a noose around their neck. On second glance, I was right, there was a guy standing there. So I ran down to the goldfish bowl where all the staff congregate and banged on the glass. Sister Lasagne unlocked the door and I told her what was happening. She just shook her head and said not to worry, he does that every day. I couldn't believe my ears. Well I thought things were bad but they were about to get a lot worse.

They were giving usTemaz:zies, five times a day to begin with. J

Then 3-2-1-, LET THE

CLUCKING COMMENCE!

I may as well tell you about dinner times: breakfast at 9am I think, consisting of Cornflakes, a mug of tea, a bap and a container of jam. In mid winter, that is not my idea of a breakfast so I just had the tea. Nothing then till 12 noon. Dinner would be barely edible, something like boiled potatoes, boiled carrots and a piece of pie that would be dry as a bone. The food was so boiled, it was ridiculous! I wouldn't give it to my dog, or more to the point, my dog wouldn't eat it. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, things were much the same. They were giving us temazzies (Temazepam). Five times a day to begin with then down to 3-2-1, let the clucking commence! So I've had no kip now for five days and this new fella turns up on the wing. A right racist git, who was always making lewd comments to the girls and hiding behind walls so you'd turn the comer and there he'd be- standing there- listening to your conversation. All the girls were petrified of him, so at night they would all go to bed at the same time. Often, they'd say to me 'If you see him coming into our dorm, stop him' - the bloke was a creep of the highest order.

It all came to a head one day when I was in the toilet, and I hear Sally) who had one. They don't trust any of the nutters with him outside, saying to Sally who was just about to have a bath, them. Anyway, I lend it to her and after she had drunk the 'Can I come into the bathroom with you'. Sally replies really brandy she decided to cut herself up. And she had only locked loudly that no, she doesn't go into bathrooms with strange men herself in the toilet. She really went to town, slashing her wrists and could he go away. So then I came out of the loo and he's and neck and then saying that she wanted to talk to me. The staff just standing there looking docile and Sally's looking visibly knew what she was doing because she wouldn't open the door shocked. So we went to the staff about him and and in the end they asked me if I wanted they said that because he's a psychiatric pato go in. I said yes. tient, there is nothing they could do about it. So I went in and Tara's standing there So I went in and Tara's standing Unless he touched them that is. I was told that with a razor blade in her hand and bleedif I do anything to help and it turns into a ing heavily. I asked her to throw it down there with a razor in her hand fight- I would be the first one to be kicked out. the toilet but she wouldn't let go of it and Anyway, a friend of mine turns up to visit and I thought better of it than to try and take it and bleeding heavily. In the end has a word in the blokes ear. And that was that. off her. In the end they called the old bill they called the old bill. ... bundled No more nonsense. and then just rushed at her. Bundled to the floor they filled her full of Valium and her to the floor and filled her So by now it's about day nine and I'm still as other stuff. It took a lot to knock her out, full of Valium and other stuff. rough as anything. After seven days without the police must of been on top of her for sleep I was delirious so I got the Doctor up and about 30 minutes. It all seemed to be told him I was walking into door frames. I just brought on by that bastard that kept hasneeded some kip badly so he ends up giving sling her, of course, by this time he's nome one 20mg Temazapam (generous bloke eh?). I managed to where to be seen. get a couple of hours kip then was wide awake again. Oh, I forgot to mention, you're not allowed out of the building for the I relapsed. I'd had enough. I know it's not an excuse but it really first four days but by now I could go out. I would go to the pub didn't help being surrounded by lunatics, it is the last place you for a couple of brandy's just to help me get my head down. should be coming off the gear. I left when I went into the pub and had a drink. I went to get some methadone the same day. One night, Tara smelt drink on me and asked me to get her a half Well, maybe in different surroundings it could have been Ok, as bottle of brandy. She wasn't allowed out because she was on a it went- I was back to square one in a week. A waste on everysection. So, I got it for her and she went and drank the whole lot one's behalf. ... By A.K.A in one go. I forgot to mention that she'd borrowed my shaver not Sir Arthur Strebb Grebbling long before this as I was the only one on the ward (apart from

1889 Pharmacologist Heinrich Dreserthe German inventor of AsprinProcesses Heroin from Morphine

+THE C.l.A IN BED WITH HEROIN ANO COCAINE TRAFFICKERS DURING THE REAGAN ERA +DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS WHAT IS IT AND HOW SHOULD YOU DEAL WITH IT

+CONST/PA TION -TIPS! Remember- Get your stories, poems, drawings & articles in by deadline, 5th of Feb 1999!

1 DEADLIN

05/02/1999

on. Remember~

if you start a relationship, it's NO GOOD sllirlif18 oul wilh a condom for a little while, then lhinkif18 and little rubber johnny lo lhe wind. You wouldn't just start sharif18 your works wilh your males would you? WELL? Il's nol easv in lhe heal of passion lo 'c5el plastic' bul il is worlh il. I know. Because I lhrew my johnny' lo lhe bed post after six weeks with my new boyfriend and NOW I have (ipl fIN. Yel I would Nt\TEQ of shared a needle .. 21

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I AM

The Thief of Time

ret THE: ME:MORIE:S ARE: THE:RE:

I am a hundred stories told I am the dreams ~ou'll never hold

ALL THE: GOOD TIME'S AND SAD,

Things ~ou can't feel 'cause I am to blame I am the river of tears ~ou will er~

For the pain ~ou will cause one who loves ~ou, not I I am the time ~ou cannot reclaim

·s' THE: DRE:AMS AND THE: SCHE:ME:'S I RE:ME:ME>E:R THE: SMACK, THE: SCRLAM'S, THE: LOSS OF HOPE:.

For I am the one who takes over

FROM THE: WIND AND THE: COLD, l'VE: GOT PE:OPLE: WHO CARE:,

Yes, I am the one of whom all have spoken

TO LOVE: AND TO HOLD. SO I GO TO THE: ROOM'S,

Most with hate, all with emotion

ITAKE: RISK'S AND I SHARE:,

Thousands of lies, stories all told

I LE:T GOD GUIDE: MY FOOTSTE:PS,

To loved ones, friends, ~oung and old

SA Y'S GOD, " IF I DARE:"'"

All heard before and will be again keep me at hand, ~our worst ever friend

For I am the one ~ou will lie for l am the one ~ou will die for

Me, I am that one. Trisha

I RE:ME:ME>E:R THE: DOPE:,

NOW l'VE: TURNE:D A WAY

Tears ~ou will er~ for friends as the~ die

ire

DE:LIGHTFUL AND MAD.

The life ~ou don't live nor will be the same Me, I am that one

w p1

THE: HAPPY, INDIFFE:RE:NT,

I am regret and hurt and shame

It ~ou

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MY SOUL IS AT PLACE:, MY VISION IS HAZY, MY HE:ALTH IS RE:TURNING, I AM CLE:AN AND STILL CRAZY.

Anton

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It retains moisture which allows the bacteria to flourish. Tissue is not very hygienic either, especially if the weather is hot, warmth being the second ingredient needed grow a good batch of germs. If you re-use filters, which really isn't a good idea, here's a few tips to help you avoid those dirty Firstly, make sure that when you prepare your hit, your equipment is dean; a new syringe (used ones can harbour germs and viruses), sterile water (tap water is not good enough, especially if your saving filters) and a dean spoon (no traces of dirt, old gear, or detergent). If you start off as cleanly as possible, it gives you a better chance to keep your filter in good nick. Then, when you've had your gear, get a glass jar a metal Lid and boil it for at Least 30 minutes. When the jar is completely dry, put your filter in it and place the jar in a nice cold fridge. But remember, don't keep it for long, I recommend 2 days at the absolute most. When you do boil up old filter/sit would be a good idea to use a new filter to filter the old stuff. The fridge is the best place for your spoons too- but not for long. As well as bacteria, you also have to worry about whether your allergic or not to the cut in the gear. Some people get such a major reaction or develop infections that they become very sick and occasionally die. You can certainly feel like you're going to die when you have a dirty hit. If you feel unwell or have a fever after a hit, make sure you get some medical advice, things can do get serious sometimes. TAKE POC.

-----.....11 I usu-

Dear Exploding Head,

I'm afraid your girlfriend was spot on- you did have a and saving filters in a matchbox is one sure way getting another one. Dirty hits can range from a mild head thumper, an all shivering, vomiting, sledgehammer the brain. Very nasty. You see, noone really knows what's in street gear these days; bits dust, skin, your dealers toe jam etc. As soon as 've dissolved your gear water, bugs will start to grow and multiply and even when you boil it they may not die. Once the gear is sucked up into your works, you'll end up with these bugs and foreign remains left dinging to your spoon and where they can continue to up your spoons and plastic is a move.

Doctor Lotscidrugs is the pen 11cime of one of the Blqck Poppy crew, who's iob it is to run ;irou11d ;md collect the i11Form;itio11 needed to ci11swer your he<1lth questions. We h;ive 'I p<111el of wonderful cidvisors, i11cludi11g 'l G.P, 'I speci;ilist nurse, 'I psychologist, 'l drugs counsellor <111d some experienced drug users, who e11sureth<1t Doctor Lots<1drugs gives out iustthe righf<1dvice. Ple<1se write in it you h<1ve 'lily questions, we C'lll ci11swer them here or in confidence. Address <111d phone ill front.

Kurt and Courtney Nick Broomfield is an English documentary maker whose reputation has been built on roaming the globe dismantling the cult of personality. Extreme characters seem to both attract and repel him. Nick is a bit star-struck, very English and comes on very 'auteur.' In a fashion, he's the columbo of the paparazzi verite (a growth sector) and once locked on to his target, he is pure sleuth. His work on Eugene Terre Blanche and Heidi Fleiss are classics of their type. This film, however, is more problematic.

Kurt is seen as Baby Kurt, Lonely Kurt, Stoned Kurt, Brilliant Kurt, Kurt and Courtney. Dead Kurt.

by Gary Si. Rich Kurt, Kurt and Courtney. Dead Kurt. Sucked on a shotgun at 27 above the garage in his Seattle retreat. Then, as is the way in the 'Dead Pop Stars Society' we now have the Cult of Kurt, which Courtney doesn't want raked over again. As someone once said hearing of Elvis's death "good career move!" So, bearing this in mind, whats Courtney's problem? Delving among Seattles pop underground, Courtney seems to inspire fear and hatred in equal measure. The implication is clear- the marriage was in trouble, divorce had been mentioned and death threats had permeated the grapevine for quite sometime. Murder most foul? A private detective who was originally hired by Ms Love reckons as much but then the book and follow up fill the need for people to make some sense of Kurt's death. Americans love a good conspiracy theoryremember Umbrella Man?

'Kurt and Courtney' presents a riddle wrapped in a mystery. By the conclusion we've learnt very little! Courtney's people see to that. Courtney Love- movie star ascendant, ex-partner to Kurt, mother of his They were the Sid and Nancy of child, lead chanteuse in 'HOLE'- Seattle the '90s. Kurts gone. Courtney, grunge combo and most pertinently, holder you feel, has moved on. of the Kurt Cobain estate. Kurt is seen as Baby Kurt, Lonely Kurt, Leaming Kurt, Stoned Kurt, Brilliant Kurt, The films best sequence is Courtney

appearing at ~ ment civil lib~ Beth presidin[ ing for the Sec: Trust- and Bn protest, after al speech' and h1 decent footage. in front of Hof als. Everyone k: drugs hardcore. Nancy of the '9\ gone. Courtney,

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5n.IQ fO uoqn'.)3S.I3d 3 i ...... ·· · ·:iu3UltB3.lt prn 0 .Mtslb< -UB\ 3l\t 53s6.1BUB B.IBWo ' ........ : . .,

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Don't expect to J wo:i·ootjeh®hddod"\:ie\9 '\!ew-"J cM NOJ.')N\OOVJ ("Here we are n~ 'O>i J>i'i\-IM µJ.\10S 9 wrote in his mos1 with a sense of hi >IQ 11 .;.;s96 iSIO somewhere but nl g I+ I 9 g g I L Io 'TJ.l into the man who <;NOiJ.V:JilCJ\1.J -'JJOJ /l:J'ilCJ drove passed the stood in awe outsi with Courtney anc Here, the biggest r~ _____ ~· ... ~ s"m:aanon withdrew his $400 max, spent it all on smack and drove home to shut the whole world out. Verdict: Rock and Roll suicide .......... .

'When the smack begins to flow Then I really don't care anymore About all the jimjims in this town And everybody putting everybody else down All the politicians making crazy sounds And all the dead bodies piling up in mounds' (Velvet Underground -Heroin)

s3ssn'.)s~p UBU1p3P:

Here are some ,,.,.,,,,.,,,,., users............... .

an alcoholic and an addict? -They'll both steal your wallet but We've put a central line into him so I don't get any nasty needle the addict will help you look for stick injury's or catch any horrible viruses ........... .. it. (Dr from a west London hospital on his reasons for inserting a central line into a patients neck) What's the definition of co-

Dr.......Are you ....,w.,.a....n-•n Patient....... (looks embarrassed and pauses) Dr....... you SHIT yourself? (A DSS Dr, reviewing an application for Disability Living Allowance, at a clients home ..... )

dependency? - When you're dying, someone else's life flashes before your eyes How many addicts can you fit in a mini? - Throw in a joey and find out.

This is not a democracy, and you don't like it you can leave ..... JESUS SAVES SINNERS!! (A consultant psychiatrist heading a D.D.U, on his response to a clients And redeems them for cash and concerns and suggestions about their treatment at the clinic). valuable prizes. so (A keyworker at a Drug Treatment Clinic on clients outside searching for bus tickets with the intention ofredeeming the cost). Ifyou have heard any statements from health professionals that have deeply offended

1843 Scottish surgeon Alexander Wood invents the syringe.

you or were just plain nasty, ring/write to us and we will print them. You need to have heard them first hand. It is a small step towards making Health Authorities aware the discrimination drug users consistently face in their medical treatment.

10 11 12 16

Classed, Scheduled, 5 Selftitle 4 Unconscious,- too much gear, 1,1 Vial containing drug,_ 7 Dry out, 5 Extra 4 Prison,(American slang) 7 Isle of Man motorcycle race 1,1

U.S. National drug squad 3 Speed tablets (sl) 6 Spirit 4 Spike 6 Brothel propriotress 5 Used with meth' amps. (abr) 3 Inflammation of the eyelid 4 Heroin substitute 9 13 London police (abr) 3

17 18 22 24 25 26 27 30 31

Diamonds (slang) 3 Display,-skin design 6 Bright red blood 8 Small amount 1,3 - - Simpson 1,1 -- Redding (singer) 4 To fix 7 Heaven, MDMA 7 Charlie, (sl) 4

14 15 19 20 21 23 28 29

To buy drugs 5 Snort 4 YearofOurLord 1,1 Mix with hash for joint 7 Simply 6 Acid tabs 5 Prosecute 3 Mother 2 ( answers next issue)

I have!

an addict for many years now and have been through plenty of the fragile highs and desperate lows addiction to illegal drugs usually brings. What I've found the most debilitating however, is the discrimination I've faced because of it. Growing up in a single parent family, being poor and homeless, being HIV and HCV positive and of course, being a woman, has ensured that prejudice and I are no strangers. Yet the stereotyping and subsequent discrimination I face as 'drug addict' has been, by far, the most insidious. The fear and loathing with which society views illicit drug use and the degrading, dehumanising images of 'junkies' consistently conveyed through the mass media are having a serious impact on drug - - - - - - - - - - - users welfare.

went on T.V, radio and did a few articles for the papers, but although I wasn't afraid to 'come out' about my status, I actually hid my drug use. I knew that if I mentioned my addiction, people would of switched off, conveniently distancing themselves from the reality of HIV/AIDS being an illness that can affect anyone. I also didn't want people presuming, (like they do all the time) that I became positive through sharing needles. I have been a fastidiously safe drug user for many years now and most of my peers wouldn't dream of sharing works anymore.

THE H@tCAL NEGLEeT ARISING FIWH IGNORANCE AND APATHY IS CO>l"ING US OUR WIES. ff TRULY rs A SHAHEFUL SffUATION ...... ·o i( IS '01

·is ta s, :e1

it it m

The indifference towards drug users though, seemed to permeate everywhere. Seeking out the usual HIV agencies, trying to find support and information, I was to find myself once more out in the cold. Most of the agencies were gay based and being a hetro, female drug user, I was treated with suspicion and disinterest. Many positive drug users have experienced the same. At first I was deeply hurt and confused- I couldn't understand why I was being treated so coolly. After all, I was HIV too, wasn't I? However, all this strengthened my resolve to speak about women and HIV and the particular problems we all face. I

My greatest fear about being an HIV positive drug user is that one day, I too, may die unnecessarily from being either overlooked for drug treatment/research (happens all the time to I.V. D.U's), or an uninterested doctor will send me away thinking a potentially life threatening illness is merely drug related. At the moment I must rely on my current G.P and HIV doctor to be around as long as I am. It appears that my life may well depend on it.. ...... E.O

:If ~ wou£d Me to, pfuce a

of, 6Cll1tOOIU tµJ-U cwted a&.ut w&0e died, eiilwt ~ O.!i in tfie pa6t and tµJ-U want pfume U6 and we will puD.fuli it fO.!i IJA1-U·

ro wJtite "o.me W<JJUU fO.!i tfum, wJtite

O.!i

REMEMBRJ\NCE OF In loving memory of Bernie, on the 2nd anniversary of your death. You were a wonderful, warm

and generous person and your death was a shock to everyone. Another death that was preventable, a consequence of medical apathy. We'll keep up the fight. I'm still thinking of you. Love E.O

For Ronnie Nelson, who died so tragically on Mar.5th this year. We send our deepest sympathies to · your family and friends and lets hope you finally get some peace. B.P

Tony R. He was a good bloke, my best friend. Even though it's been a long time since your death you are still sorely missed. C.

A monthly newsletter for people affected by drugs and HIV/Hep C, subscriptions free for drug users & pos people Tel; 01715825434 (see helpline) Positive Nation A monthly magazine for the HIV/AIDS community, available at various HIV clinics and HIV/AIDS organisations. Subscriptions free for those on income support. Also sent outside the UK for a fee. Tel; 01715642121 Body & Soul A monthly newsletter for women, heterosexual men, children and families living with or closely affected by HIVI AIDS. Subscriptions free. Tel; 01718334828 (see helpline) N.A.M's AIDS Treatment Update A monthly newsletter concerning the latest information on HIV treatments, subscriptions free to those affected by HIV/AIDS. They also have published a HIVI AIDS Treatment Directory which covers all the latest advances in treatment therapy. For those affected by HIV it costs £9.95, or a two edition subscription £18. Newsletter Tel; 01716273200, same for directory. The User's Voice A newsletter produced by The John Mordant Trust providing a forum for ex/current drug users to express themselves and become involved in the drug policy debate. Free subscription. Tel; 0181 846 6611/6824 Thur-Fri (see users org)

Liver Focus

A quarterly newsletter from the British Liver Trust, includes a supplement on Hepatitis C called 'C Positive' . Information on treatments, support groups, conferences etc concerning all liver disease. Subscriptions free. Tel; 01473 276 328

A monthly newsletter for people living with HIVI AIDS. Subscriptions free. Tel; 01718351045 (see helpline) Links A magazine providing a forum for drug and alcohol service users, professionals and clients of HIV/AIDS services. Information on treatment approaches, current services and new initiatives. Available at some D&A agencies. To find out where, contact 0171 3 85 7971 ext 54 77. Transformer A quarterly newsletter published by the Transform organisation, campaigning for reform of drug policy and legislation. Free subscription to members. Membership is £5 unwaged, £1 prisoners, £15 waged. Tel; 117 939 8052 (see user's rights org) Drug Link A bimonthly magazine for all specialist and non specialist workers and researchers involved in the response to drug misuse in Britain. Subscriptions cost £ 45 for a year (or you can buy individual copies) Tel; 0171 928 1211 (Published by the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence and available to read at ISDD library) Prison Report A quarterly magazine produced by the Prison Reform Trust, includes contributions from prisoners, the public, prison and probation staff, senior officials and academics. Subscriptions- £20 or £8 unwaged. Tel; 0171 251 5070. Drug Net Europe A bimonthly newsletter of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Contains a variety of information on events/research/news/drug policies in Europe. Tel; (Portugal) (351 1) 811 3030- write to Rua da Cruz de Santa Apolonia 23-25, 1100 Lisbon, Portugal.

These groups and forums are places where you can become active locally or Nationally, helping in the fight for drug users and prisoners to be treated equally and humanely. Please contact us if you would like your group to be on this list. 'I am telling you, tomorrow you will be mobilised, and for you and me, this will be a liberation' (A. Camus, Le Mytlte de Sisyphe) Firm (Fun In Recovery Mc:magement) Is a group run by ex-users for ex-users, (you need only be clean/sober for more than a day) who offer support and fun activities for people to do, ie; visits to the Comedy Store, yoga, pool comps, creative writing classes etc. For ex addicts of any persuasion .. You can ring 0958 637 452 for more info or just turn up to 69 Talgarth road Wl 4, times are from 6- 1 0 pm each Mon night. FIRM has a membership of over 40 people and promotes user involvement. (Also provides a small newsletter with updates on what their doing). B.S.U.R.F (NWl 0) Brent Substance Users Rights Forum is a group of ex/current substance users who meet regularly to discuss drug related issues with the intention of advocating, campaigning and influencing drug and alcohol policies and services. B.S.U.R.F is able to meet with professionals in the drug field and has links with other drug users rights organisations. They offer peer support as well as having access to academic and skills training for its members. B.S.U.R.F meets every alternate Tue 5.30-7.30pm at the Junction Project 27 Station Rd Willesden Junction. Ph; 0181 961 7007. Just turn up or call for more details. Respect Users Union Is a group set up to campaign for drug users' rights. It is a group founded by drug users from all different backgrounds using all types of drugs. Respect is involved in the National debate on drug use and the formation of a National Drug Users Network and attends a variety of drugs users events. They are an activist organisation encouraging membership. Phone for more details; 0171 536 9097. Fax; 0171 538 0593, Respect also have a Home Page; http .. / /www.elcds.demon.co.uk Mainliners Has a User Group who meet regularly to discuss issues relevant to the drug using community as well as being a forum for Mainliners clients. Meetings are held at Mainliners, 38-40 Kennington Park Rd SEl 1 or ph 0171 5825434. John Mordant Trust An trust set up in the Memory of John Mordant, a well respected and much loved drugs activist who tragically died of AIDS several years ago. The Mordant Trust is run by his wife, Andrea, with the intention of enabling drug users whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS/Hep C to advocate and campaign around issues that affect their lives. The Trust is focused on 'galvanising these communities into acting for themselves', and engages its members on every level of the organisation. You can find out more by ringing Andrea on Thur and Fri at 0181 846 6611 or on Mon and Wed on 0171 928 9500. Hepatitis C group The Caravan_runs a Hep C support group providing those affected with advice, opportunities to discuss and share information, medical advice, and support. Munchies available. For more details, ring the Caravan on 0171 886 1418 or turn up to 6 South Wharf Road Paddington. Meetings are every other Thur from 2pm. Hepatitis C group Mainliners runs a well established Hep C support group, attended by a variety of affected individuals, offering peer support, information sharing, and advice. A chance to hear what's going on with Hep C treatments. Held the 1st Tues of every month, 5.30-7.30 or ph; 0171 582 5434 Butterfly Liver Trust Is an organisation that has recently evolved in the direction of offering support for those with liver cancer or liver disease. For people who have had problems with getting support ph Louisa for more details 0181 932 8008

Here is a list of some meetings, conferences etc and a bit about 'what's going on'. PS; World AIDS Day December 1st. Women's HIV forum A special information forum on Women and HIV held at Positively Women, 347-349 City Rd ECl on December 8th., between 7pm and 9pm Speaker- Dr Jane Anderson. The Forum is free and open to all. Participate in much needed drug research and eam a tenner If you've been a long term drug user and never taken the drug ecstasy, then the University of East London needs you. It is conducting some pioneering research into ecstasy. You will need to attend the Uni for approx 2hrs, and at the end you'll not only get a tenner but will have contributed towards some important research for drug users. Research that's much needed. Phone for more detailsHelen Fox on 0181 590 7000 ext 4556. MEETING Are you fed up with your D.D.U? Are you sick and tired of the way drug services are runs? Does it make you angry the way drug users are treated? Would you like to be able to REALLY tell the Health Authority what you think and need? Well, here's your chance. Black Poppy are requesting as many ex/ current drug users as possible to attend a meeting in order to create a users forum for the K.C.W &NWL area. We will be inviting some drug activists to speak and discuss their experiences and hope to thrash out a plan for our own 'users action group'. We have a link with the local H.A, who agree with the need for a 'users view' and the formation of a group. Things have GOT to change. Enough is Enough! January 22nd, Caravan Needle Exchange at 6pm-8pm.or ring 01819683311. +Tea and munchies Meeting for National Drug Users Network Meetings will be held at various venues across London, inviting all ex/ drug users who are interested in contributing their time or ideas to the National drugs debate and the formation of the National Drug Users Network (see page 5). It is really important to make sure that ALL drug users get their points across as a National Network will be our political representatives. No date has been set for the meeting at the time Black Poppy went to print so if your interested in attending, please give Black Poppy a ring and we can fill you in. The next meeting will be held in North West London. Ph; 0181 968 3311 / 0171 886 1418 for more details. Hep C Petition A world-wide users group is forming in response to the Hep C epidemic. If you believe that the Government could become more 'dynamic and proactive in mobilising prevention and support services' (for prisons as well) then you should be signing their petition. It is in the form of a letter to the Government with your name requested at the bottom .. Petitions are available at your local needle exchange (K.C.W area) or just ring Sarah at the Caravan on 0171 886 1418. Strength in numbers! Hepatitis B Vaccinations KCW and NWL Health Authority have set up a Hepatitis B vaccination scheme, with the intention of vaccinating 80% of all drug users who attend the boroughs drug services, by the year 2000. Hepatitis B is quite common in the injecting drug using community, causing many people to get very ill, sometimes leading to liver cancer or cirrhosis. Heterosexual sex is the most common way to catch it but as it is a blood borne virus it is also transmissible through sharing injecting equipment. The vir~s can survive in dried blood for over a week and is the most prevalent sexually trarismitted disease-2nd only to tobacco smoking as a cause of cancer in humans. BUT HEPATITIS BIS PREVENTABLE. You need a course of 3 injections to get immunity and you must get ALL 3 for it to be effective. Contact your local needle exchange for details or you can come and see Sarah at the Caravan for immunising.

!iii

Mainliners is putting together a directory and data base of user and self groups. They are looking for any organisations based around drugs, abstinence or C, that would like to be included in this and have provided this form to fill in and return. The directory will 'seek to encompass all groups, irrespective of approach', in the hope of allowing services easier access and links with each other and eventually, to move 'towards an accountable and representative national movement'. Please return the form to Mainliners, 38-40 Kennington Park London SEll 4RS (photocopies or your own written out form are OK to use - and please pass on to any other groups you think may be interested).

ORGANISATION NAME; .•.......................................... ORGANISATION SECRETARY; .................................................. .

Black Poppy Trust Are there any parents of drug users who are fed up with the way they see their sons and daughters being treated because they use drugs? Has your child died as a result of 'the drugs war'? If you find yourself disagreeing with government policies yet feel silenced public opinion, you may want to speak to other parents in similar situations. If you want to do something about it, be involved in lobbying for change or just need the support, contact Wendy on 01206 331 818.

ADDRESS; ................................................................................. .

TRANSFORM Campaigns for reform of drug policy and legislation calling for effective PHONE (ho11rn); ........................................................................ . FAX; ....................................................................................... . EMAIL; ..................................................................................... .

regarding ALL drugs • Transform believe

that the 'war on drugs' is a war on people. Grassroots membership is at the heart of Transforms campaign so if you support legalisation and would like to stay informed or become actively involved, you can become a member. (Members receive a regular newsletter-see

MEETING PLACE;

pg 29- and campaign pack). Membership is confidential .Unwaged

TIME OF MEETINGS;

Membership, 1 Roselake House, Hudds Vale Road, Bristol BS5 7HY

£5, waged £15, prisoner £1, overseas £25 Send to; Transform

NUMBER OF MEMBERS (approx);

DATE OF FORMATION ............................................................... . STATUS (charity, association, etc); ....

FUNDING SOURCES; .................................................................. . THIS ORGANISATION IS CONNECTED TO (eg: DDC/clinic/special interest etc);

CATCHMENT AREA/OPERATING FIELD/AIMS & OBJECTIVES; ..... .

PARTICULAR AGENDA OR SPECIAL RESOURCE (eg: internet, video camera, library, cntti11gs library, etc);

___

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN JOINING: 1) A NATIONAL GROUP;

.,.I

yes

I no

The Praed Sheet Prnjed (W2) A free and confidential specialist sexual health service for women who work or have worked in any part of in the sex industry. This service offers health check-ups for STD'S (sexually transmitted diseases), cervical smears, HEP B vaccinations, The Pill, condoms, dental darns, lube and emergency contraception are available (Morning After Pill) as well as pregnancy screening, referrals to other needed health agencies, advice, support and info on general health, drugs, welfare, legal issues. Drop in facilities and crisis support. Helpline available from Mon-Fri 1 Oarn-5prn. You can also get hold of 'Ugly Mug Lists', (Mainliners also has these lists). Ph; 0171 886 1549 /1 828 Outreach at various locations. Sexual Assault Service (W2) A free and confidential service for women who have recently been sexually assaulted. Offers health check-ups, emergency contraception, psychological and emotional support and access to health advisors. You will not be expected to report the assault to the police and they don't provide forensic examination services. Ph; 0171 725 1590 Streetwise Youth Confidential advice and support for young men aged 25 and under who are sex workers. Offers free food, showers, legal advice, laundry, safer sex material, doctor, nurse, drug workers, education and employment advisors avail. Ph; 0171 370 0406

Sometimes, the fact that you're a drug user may mean that you don't gel treated so well when you go for help. If you do have problems with particular services:-' we'd like to know aboul it. We'd also be very happy to know of any services that have been really helpful and non judgmental so we can make sure that we include the organisations name and number, Ok?!

Benefits Advice and Help Citizens Advice Bureaux - CAB Help and advice on a range of matters {housing, benefits, debts, etc) with very knowledgeable staff. Odd opening hours so phone first Westway Information Centre, Ladbroke Grove- 0181 960 3322 ChelseaTownHall0171 351 2114 Paddington CAB 01 81 960 4481 Disability Enquiry Line Free enquiry line providing confidential advice. Able to discuss claims but have no access to personal records so cannot help with detailed enquiries. Will help you to fill in DLA forms etc over the phone. (NOTE; we suggest you see an agency for face to face help if filling in any DLA forms) freephone 0800 882200 Emergency Benefits Agency (SEl) Keyworth House is an out of hours service for homeless people and those in crisis. It is able to pay out money for income support and crisis loan claims only in emergencies~You need to be referred by social services or Police Times are; after 3pm weekdays and 9am- 1 Oam Sat. Legal/Prisoner Advice and Help Release (also see helplines) Offers a range of free, confidential services to people affected by drug use, including legal advice. Legal staff advise on specialist areas of drug law as well as general criminal and other legal issues ie; debt, welfare, housing and child custody. Does outreach work at various drug/welfare organisations. Solicitors available 24hrs. Ph; 0171 7295255 Women Prisoners Resource Centre Offers information and support for female prisoners (past and present) on housing, health, employment, drugs and violence. Ph; 0181 968 3121 Fulham Legal Advice Centre Gives free legal advice by volunteer lawyers- no appoint nee, just drop in, first come- first served basis. Odd times so phone first. Ph; 0171 731 2401 Immunity (NWl) Legal advice, information and representation for anyone with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS. Home and hospital visits are available; office and outreach appointments; disabled access. Interpreters avail, with prior notice. Ph;O 171 388 677 6 Practical assistance Shelter London line 24hr phone line offering extensive list of hotels, hostels, accommodation across London. Ph (free) 0800 446 441 The Hardship Fund An initiative by Terrance Higgins Trust and Crusaid. Provides financial assistance for people with HIV/AIDS, towards goods or services that are not available from statutory sources and can't be met on current income. This includes bills, electrical appliances and respite care. Ring Jane or Suzi on 0171 833 9707 Pharmacy Needle Exchange and Outreach Service (Wl 0) Provides a collection service for clinical waste (works & stuff). The service is free and confidential (no personal details required) but you need to be referred by a specialist agency. Ken & Chel area. Ph; 0181 960 0880

Interpreters are available at some services

Mainliners Offers advice, information and a range of services for HIV /Hep C drug users and injecting drug users. Services on offer include needle exchange, advice and information on HIV/Hep C, Optician, laundry service, criminal justice practitioner, welfare advice, free hot meals between 1-2pm and sandwiches available all day, as well as complementary therapies. Mainliners also offers a 'Life skills' programme which includes learning skills such as numeracy, literacy, cooking and others. Their Working Women's project offers outreach workers and flat deliveries to working women, a medical clinic on Tues, 'Ugly Mugs' list. Hep C support group and a new group is starting in Jan for Hep C affected people ie; positive peoples carers and partners - see User Groups section. Open 12-8pm, (except Wed 1 2-4pm (lifeskills in morn) + closed on Fri. Sat open 12-6pm. Ph; 0171 582 5434 Body And Soul (WCl) A really wonderful organisation, welcoming to drug users, supporting women, hetrosexual men, children and their families, living with or closely affected by HIV/AIDS. Provides advice, support, information, counselling, assistance in crisis, laundry service, Well Woman clinic, gym, teenager group (Teen Spirit)offering a variety of activities, creche, hospital support/visits, hetrosexual evenings for men and women and a woman's night, yoga, guest speakers and various workshops.Open Mon-Fri and some evenings. Ph; 0171 8334828 Griffen Proiect A specialised in-patient service for HIV pos drug users. Nursing, medical and social support for 14 men and womenincluding couples, (single, double and 4 bedded rooms). Client forum and client involvement is promoted. Develop programmes of intervention including stabilisation, maintenance and detoxification. Wheelchair access. Ph; 0171 373 9826 Positively Women Practical and emotional service for women affected by HIV/AIDS. Complementary therapies. Support groups organised on a weekly basis at a variety of venues- transport and creche provided. PH; 0171 713 0222 River House (W6) Provides a range of services for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Drop in, really cheap hot meals, safe environment, complementary therapies, needle exchange, domestic violence drop in, housing advice, counselling, laundry facilities, carers day (Sun 12- 4pm with lunch) and a women's day with various activities on Mon 12.30-4pm (bring your kids) Ph 0181 7 41 4772; Blackliners (SW9) Offers a helpline, face to face counselling and referrals to other agencies for people from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia affected by HIV/AIDS Open Mon-Fri Ph; 0171 7387468 Helpline ph; 01717385274 The Link (NWl) A resource centre for men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS as well as partners, relatives and carers. Services available are cheap hot lunches (12-2pm), welfare, housing and legal advice, counselling, exercise classes, complementary therapies, access to clinical nurse specialists, library and lounge area. Wheelchair access. Open 9.30am- 5.30pm, Tues to Sat. Ph; 0171 267 0400 Terrance Higgins Trust (WCl )A charity to Inform, advise and help individuals concerned about HIV/AIDS. Services include a library (of HIV/AIDS information) welfare, legal, housing advice and assistance. Practical support from their Buddy service, Helper Cells (a service helping ill people with gardening, pet walking, carpentry, decorating etc) support for drug users and more. Phone for more details 0171 831 0330 1 Oam-5pm weekdays Helpline, 1 Opm daily 0171 242 1010 23

----------

Drug· Organisations and helplines

Th.ese are names of drug organisations who provide a range of services, although we haven't included the numbers of any D.D.U's .... Occasionally some organisation's times and services on offer may change slightly but this information was up to date at the time we went to print. The Caravan (W2) A client led Health Care Service which provides a comprehensive range of interventions and a safe environment. Services include support, needle exchange, drop in, referrals, benefits, housing and legal advice, Hep C group, walk in wounds/nursing service and doctor available and a variety of complementary therapies Staff include ex users. . Wheelchair access. Open weekdays 11 am to 5pm, but closed for lunch between 1-2pm Drop in open each day 2-5pm. 01718861972/1418 Westminster Drug Project (WOP) (W9) A service for Ken/Chel/ West residents, providing confidential support, advice and information for drug users, no appoint nee. WDP offers a needle exchange service, literature, counselling, auricular acupuncture (on Tue+ Thur 2-3pm) and RELEASE legal worker. WDP also have an arrest referral worker, Micheal, who can help you in a custody situation and an outreach worker, Helen, who can visit people who are housebound providing a nursing service, referrals, and mobile needle exchange. Open 1 Oam-5pm, except Wed- closed in the morning. Ph; 0171 286 3339 (see Helpline).W9 Blenheim Proiect (Wl O) A project offering a needle exchange, drop in, information and counselling, advice, a structured crack day programme (10.30-4pm each day)criminal justice worker, welfare advice, complementary therapies and detox teas. Women's day (wed 1-4pm). Disabled access. Opening times are Mon-Fri, 1-4pm. Ph; 0181 960 5599 for more details. City Roads Crisis Intervention Their helpline offers advice and information on drug use, withdrawals, safer drug use and the law. Nurses are available for health information. They also offer a 10 day detox for male and female drug users in crisis,(crack, opiates,) with a 1 0 day blind methadone detox for opiate users with a doctor, nurses and complementary therapies available. Self referral. HELPLINE Ph; 0171 278 8671 available 24hrs. Junction Project (NWl 0) Brent borough Harrow catchment area. ·Provides free and confidential support and advice for drug users. Services include opiate and cocaine substitute prescribing (methadone/melleril) self referral or agency /G.P; psychotherapist for relapse prevention, vitamins, detox teas, needle exchange, criminal justice worker, welfare and housing advice and Peer Education Programme (PEP). Drop in available Tue and Thur 2 - 5pm; crack support group Monday 6-8pm; family support group Tue fortnightly 7-8pm. Users Forum - B.S.U.R.F (See also Users Organisation) Call for more details 0181 961 7007 Core Trusl (NWl) A day centre offering a 5 day a week structured programme for all drug users (ie; prescribed and illegal drugs as well as alcohol and eating disorders).The programme involves a 3 month (cyclical) detox, rehab and aftercare service from a holistic perspective- psychotherapy, complementary therapies-principally one to one acupuncture, detox and sleep teas, counselling and groups. Kitchen and food making facilities available and sometimes lunch is on offer. Wheelchair access. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm, Sat&Sun 1 Oam- l 2 noon. Referrals to other agencies Ph; 0171 258 3031 H.O.T (Healthy Options Team) (E3) Is a community based project working with homeless (temp accom, squats, a mates floor, the street, B&B etc) IV and HIV pos drug users. Services include emergency needle exchange, HIV and Hep C testing, counselling, practical and emotional support, primary health care, clinical hypnosis, shiatsu, befriending and more Ph; O 1 81 983 4888

-- - - - ·

Other Telephone Helplines There are loads of helplines out there and we don't have the room to fit all the relevant ones in, but we've tried to cover bases focusing on 'Drug User Friendly' services. Perhaps next issue, there will be more room! Telephone helplines can be a very useful way of getting advice and information when YOU need it. No waiting lists, no appointments and no traipsing around town ....

HIV /AIDS HELPLINES National AIDS Helpline A handy line for help and informationopen 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week (available in a variety of languages from Arabic to Welsh during certain times). Free call. 0800 567 123 Mainliners (See HIV Organisations). Helpline available for advice and support for ex/current drug users and sex workers affected by HIV/AIDS. Mon-Fri, 1Oam- 5pm. 0171 582 5226 Blackliners Providing advice and counselling to people from the black communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Mon-Fri, l Oam- 6pm. 01717385274 Positiveline Body Positives own helpline (see HIV organisations) staffed by men and women who are themselves positive. Mon-Fri, 1 Oam- 6pm. Free call. 0800 616 212

LEGAL HELPLINES Release (See Legal/ organisations) Legal help and advice for drug users, their families, friends and professionals. Solicitors available 24hrs. 0171 729 9904 Mon-Fri, 1 Oam- 6pm 0171 603 8654 after 6pm Mon- Fri and weekends. Terrence Higgins Trust Offers advice and support on legal matters for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Mon/Wed, 7pm- 9pm 0171 405 2381 Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) Advice on civil, and political rights including police complaints, public order, privacy, strip search, censorship, lesbian/ gay rights. Advice lines times may be subject to change. Phone for times. 0171 378 8659 Disability Law Service Helpline offering legal advice for people with disabilities, their families and carers. Issues include benefits and Dss, housing rights, education and employment, wills & trusts. 0171 831 8031 10.30am- l pm, 2pm- 4pm Mon to Fri CAPA (Civil Rights Advice and Support Group) Helpline for survivors of racial or domestic violence and police harassment Can arrange access for solicitors for people who have been arrested Advice, support and information. 24 hour helpline 0171 729 2652 ..

PRISONERS AND EX-OFFENDERS Prisoners' Wives and Families Society Telephone service for families and friends of prisoners. Offers advice, information and support on relationship issues, housing, welfare benefits, prison visits, prison transfers etc. 0171 278 3981 lOam- 5pm weekdays. Prisoners' Advice Service Telphone service for prisoners. Offers advice on prisoners' rights and the application of prison rules. Also takes up prisoners complaints about their treatment within the prison system. 1 pm, 2pm- 5.30 each weekday except Wed. 0171 405 8090

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