International Drug Users Day came and went by (Nov. 1).  Many around the 
world took time to draw attention to issues of discrimination, death and 
ignorance faced by persons dependant on (illegal) drugs by agencies, 
governments etc.

Australia has a long history of incorporating people who use drugs into 
program design and delivery and a note below is included here.  Australia 
avoided the second wave of HIV infections that hit the rest of the world, 
including Canada, and avoided the great personal and financial expense 
precisely because of drug user involvement.

On November 14, Guy Pierre Levesque (Montreal) from the International 
Network of People Who Use Drugs and several other initiatives (including a 
peer run methadone residential program) will be in Cambridge and 
Kitchener.  Joining Guy Pierre will be Greg Scott (Chicago), a professor, 
filmmaker and organizer for the Chicago Drug Users Union.

The session is called Nothing About Us Without Us and speaks to the 
benefits and challenges of incorporating (drug using) peers into your 
programs.  Peer inclusion is supported at the highest levels of the UN in 
HIV/AIDS work, among others.

In Waterloo region, people who use drugs are rarely included in program 
development and delivery.  Yet programs developed and delivered by peers 
look much different than those without such intimate knowledge.  And they 
are often much more effective.

With varying degrees of success and involvement, local service providers 
have made some efforts to include program participants and/or peers in 
decision making:  persons with disabilities, low/no income persons, new 
Canadians, youth, business etc.  What precludes incorporating drug-using 
peers into program design and delivery into your program?

The upcoming Nothing About Us Without Us workshop offers a unique and 
stellar opportunity to learn how to make your work more effective and 
efficient while respecting basic human rights for those who choose, or are 
dependant on, (illegal) drugs.

While pre-registration is encouraged, it is not essential.

Details on the November 14 workshop can be found at:  
http://www.inthemindseye.ca/events/2007/1114.htm
9:00 AM - 12:00 pm
Cambridge Centre for the Arts – Toyota Auditorium, 60 Dickson Street, 
Cambridge

1:30 PM - 4:30 pm
KW Counselling-Room 217, 480 Charles Street East, Kitchener

To view the world-renowned Canadian report (abbreviated) on the subject 
please see:
Nothing About Us Without Us — Greater, Meaningful Involvement of People 
Who Use Illegal Drugs: A public health, ethical, and human rights 
imperative
http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/publicationsdocEN.php?ref=67

Michael Parkinson
Coordinator, Community Engagement
Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council
99 Regina Street South, Main Floor
Waterloo, Ontario    N2J 2G6
CANADA

Phone:(519) 575-4757 ext. 5016
Email:  [log in to unmask]
www.inthemindseye.ca