International Drug Users Day 1st November 2012

Did you know that there is an International Drug Users Day?
Yep that's right, we have a day - November the 1st.
One day a year that people who use drugs can choose to celebrate and commemorate  our lives, loves, challenges and choices. Its a day of celebration mainly- not a day to feel bad.
We have other days to focus on Overdose and HIV/AIDS but this is the one day for us and the good things about us . Unlike other days it's not about our ability to get sick and infect others or overdose and die and cause pain to our loved ones.

International Drug Users Day is one day where it is OK to be a person who uses drugs and to not have to apologise for it.

We already have mountains of guilt and shame projected onto us by those who seek to 'cure' us or 'rescue' us and we don't need any more excuses to feel bad about ourselves.
But we do need International Drug Users Day, our peers, our organisations and a chance to speak our truths and to be involved in the decision making that determines our futures.  Despite the ever mounting evidence to the contrary, people who use illicit drugs are still treated as somehow 'subhuman' and treated as 'other' and therefor stigmatised and discriminated against by the general population. Just as homosexuality used to be classified as a 'disease', drug use is still labelled an illness from which we need to recover.
Or do we?
We are complex individuals and our relationship with drugs is often complex. In an attempt to control us society has labelled us and categorised us as 'sick' or 'genetically predisposed to addicition' or 'deviant' and antisocial.
This is my 'truth'.....I for one do not buy into the disease model or theory. Sure people who suffer from mental health issues may also be self prescribing with substances - half their luck if they found something that works for them. Certainly people who use drugs have the same illnesses, diseases and disorders as the wider community.
But drug use in and of itself is not a 'disease'.

When asked, people who use drugs say they do so for two reasons.
To feel good.
To feel better.

So on International Drug Users Day do not let anyone tell you that you are sick or deviant or in denial.
You know who you are; someone who enjoys illicit drugs. Different drugs than the wider community.

You may not have realised that there is an International Drug Users Day and you may not realise you are not alone; all over the world there are Drug User Organisations, run by users for users.
In Australia you can link in through AIVL on a National Level or through the individual states Drug User Orgs. Internationally you can try google 'drug user organisation and your country or state or try INPUD (International Network of People who use drugs). Or leave me a message and Ill refer you.
Have a great day -
Freedom

Its about us and our families.

Oh its started again.
Once again some really smart people (Australia21) create something of value and then all the screeching harpies start their "it wont work" drowning out all intelligent conversation.

We have all seen and read all the negative backlash anytime anyone talks about the decriminalisation or the legalization and regulation of drugs.
Every idiot and his stupid mate has something to say about it and most of it is ignorant and /or fear mongering.  The giveaway is the words used... these people don't even have a understanding of the basic terms to define the argument. They use decriminalisation and legalization intermittently and often parrot back propaganda as though it was original thought.

Lets face it the participants of the round table did have most areas covered including law and order, addiction, families and today's young people. In theory you would think people would listen just a little bit.

So before the stupidest and loudest amongst us start their shrilling lets keep the call going for......
meaningful participation of drug users in the design and implementation of evidence based drug policies.

Because at the end of the day, we are the ones these laws and policies are going to affect.
Us and our families.

Its offensive John....get it?

Offensive Anex Bulletin edition 10

To John Ryan @ Anex

Re: Bulletin Edition 10 Offensive Top Ten lists

It is with horror and sadness that I have read the latest bulletin and the ensuing letter mentioning Annie Madden and AIVL.

There are so many things that I find highly degrading, judgemental and offensive about these Top Ten lists that I find it hard to know where to start.

Initially you state the lists are based on fact. Then after public and community outcry I note with actual disbelief a 'clarification' appears on the electronic copy.  For all us silly people who can’t tell a joke from a list of offensive stereotypes. Oh and the letter saying yet again "It's a joke.... get it?'

The worst thing about your response is that the negative response that you have received is from the actual people you are portraying: CNP and OMT clients and staff. And you’re still not listening.

Interestingly you acknowledge in your clarification that it is offensive and that others maybe stigmatised by it and yet because that was not your intention you won’t be recalling the edition.

Try imagining if you were writing about aboriginal people as a group, or people with disabilities or gay people.  You should be recalling the edition.

As a person who has been on both sides of the CNP desk I am telling you, ‘John, it is offensive.... Get it?

It is not acceptable humour.  It is perpetrating a vicious stereotype that demonizes and portrays users in such a negative light, as troublemakers, liars, hustlers and con artists.