Please come out and join us! It promises to be a great afternoon.
Props to Tom and Bianca of MBB for organizing this event...
New York Times Magazine, November 17, 2009 - Needle exchange is AIDS prevention that works. While no one wants to have to put on a condom, every drug user prefers injecting with a clean needle. In 2003, an academic review of 99 cities around the world found:
Contrary to popular fears, needle exchange has not led to more drug use or higher crime rates. Studies have also found that drug addicts participating in needle exchanges are more likely to enter rehabilitation programs. Using needle exchange as part of a comprehensive attack on H.I.V. is endorsed by virtually every relevant United Nations and United States-government agency.
Drug injectors don’t pass infection only among themselves. Through their sex partners, H.I.V. is spread into the general population. In many countries, the H.I.V. epidemic began among drug injectors. In Russia in 2000, for example, needle-sharing was directly responsible for more than 95 percent of all cases of H.I.V. infection. So virtually all those with H.I.V. in Russia can trace their infection to a shared needle not many generations back. Though it has been scorned as special treatment for a despised population, AIDS prevention for drug users is in fact crucial to preventing a wider epidemic.
Read the complete story in The New York Times Magazine here.
It is an important message for Off the Streets to share that NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS HELP PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT! It is an indisputable fact that services provided at syringe exchange programs are directly in line with supporting the safety of our officers working the streets. We want all members of our community to be safe from dangerous and sometimes deadly health risks that can be prevented.
In this short video, "The Risks of the Job" shows:
Volunteer experiences with Off the Streets also look good on resumes and college applications, and sound good in an interview. We offer really strong volunteer opportunities - plus we have a lot of fun! Seriously, check it out!!!
Principles of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of strategies from safer use, to managed use to abstinence. Harm reduction strategies meet drug users "where they're at," addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.
Because harm reduction demands that interventions and policies designed to serve drug users reflect specific individual and community needs, there is no universal definition of or formula for implementing harm reduction. However, HRC considers the following principles central to harm reduction practice.
NEW YORK-A study published in the Journal of Urban Health (Sept. 2, 2004) indicates that rates of injection drug use in California’s Central Valley are among the nation’s highest. Researchers concluded that Fresno has the highest number of users of illegal injection drugs per capita of any large U.S. metropolitan area, above second-place Baltimore. To read the complete article on the Drug Policy Alliance Network website, click here.
If former Modesto Mayor and local businessman Carmen Sabatino is talkin' about you on the Morning Mayor Radio Show then something must really be going on. I accidentally found this online digging around late last night on the Hive (the ridiculously frustrating and far too often abusive Modesto Bee blog). It was unexpectedly entertaining to listen to Carmen and his guests talking about the situation with which we at Off the Streets are all so familiar. The original airdate of this episode was October 26, 2009 on 106.1, the day after the first Modesto Bee article. The syringe exchange case and the Modesto Bee write up are basically discussed the whole first part of the show and it is a pretty good chunk of time! I mean, I can't tell you who really listens to the show, but let me tell you what, Carmen was all over this!!
I don't know why it matters that Carmen is proud of the volunteers, but for some reason it does. An ally is an ally is an ally. Not only that, but the feedback on the show, the questions posed, and their reactions to the article were actually kinda refreshing. And Carmen gets it. He may not be the most well-versed radio host but, for the most part, he really does get it. Thanks Carmen, Mike, and Jenni. We need as many voices as possible speaking for not only the volunteers as defendants, but for authorization in Stanislaus County. Check out the Oct. 26th show here from their archives on the Morning Mayor website. Gotta appreciate any kind of alternative media that takes interest in what we've got going on.
A few interesting tidbits from the Civil Grand Jury Report:
We are one of but a few places with such a major need for syringe exchange that actually is led by people who believe exchanging needles glamorizes, supports, and increases drug use. It just doesn't make sense to me. On any level.
SEPs are also still unauthorized in Colorado. Some of the same reasons are given there as are given here. People are just as confused there are they are here. And the picture of drug use is not that different in Colorado.
The Board of Supervisors and local city councils will soon have the chance to get it right. The Central Valley is a unique place with unique problems. To honestly think that we are exempt from this conversation about harm reduction and SEPs is irresponsible, ignorant, and vain. We cannot continue on with our blinders on.
If you don't believe us based on what we positively know about Stanislaus County, please listen to someone else. The research is there, the experts are there, the statistics are there, the anecdotal evidence is there, the stories, the people, the professionals, the pressure on the system - it is all there.
So now what are we going to do about it?
Stanislaus County estimates 25-30% of injection drug users have Hepatitis C. But national data reflects 60 - 90% of injection drugs users have Hepatitis C. Hmmmm... if this is the data that the powers that be are relying on for our county we have a problem. Clearly this is not accurate information. Limited data such as this cannot be allowed to be a determining factor in our leaders' decisions around syringe exchange authorization. It is totally ridiculous that data such as this can even be considered close to reliable.
There is a ton of information out there. A good place to further your inquiry is through the 'Important Links' section on the lower left column of this blogspot.
What is Off the Streets Project? That is a good question. We are many things! Off the Streets is a volunteer-based action team-slash-think tank-slash-group of community educators, neighborhood beautifiers, health professionals, and experienced social advocates, among other things. We are all very passionate about public health, safety, economic stress, and overall community well-being. Those who have come forward CARE about Stanislaus County, have something to SAY, and want something real to DO to make a difference.
The great thing is that there are a lot of really wonderful community members, groups, and organizations involved so far (thanks to all of you!) We are a wide variety of people sitting at this table with unique perspectives and connections brought with us that are extremely valuable to this collaborative process. As a collective we understand that prevention works. We all believe strongly in promoting empowerment, resiliency, and coping skills not only in individuals, but in the circles that support them. And together we are now demanding our leaders to address the serious issues of syringe access and disposal in our community.
Thank you to those who have already stepped up to volunteer!! You can do as much or as little, be as involved as you wish. Some of us will do more than others, many will do little other than cheer us on. That is ok too. Whatever you can do in any way, no matter how big or small is much appreciated. We are so excited for more people to jump on board! The more who speak the louder our voice.
These are some of the areas that volunteers are needed to fill:
We all have unique skills and strengths so if you think you can help in some way just let us know! If you wanna do something, we'll find something for you to do. We have trainings, meetings, and some other really fun stuff coming up so we will keep you posted!
For more information or to get involved PLEASE CONTACT US at offthestreetsproject@yahoo.com or find us on Facebook.
I am the kind of person that doesn't always believe what I read. Especially in the newspaper. Even more especially online. I have a keen awareness of the fact that a news article, a special report at 6, or an online news brief can only offer so much of the truth. It's all about perception and spin - and some situations are spun more than others.
When 2 volunteers of the Modesto Needle Exchange were busted in an elaborate undercover sting operation by the Sheriff in April, the blogging world started to buzz. Some thought they knew the whole story (even though they didn't), independent publications were sharing their piece. People were talking, the word started to spread. The "Mono Park 2" was born. Surreal.
It's hard to sit back and accept some of the things being spit out there in the cyberworld. The volunteers have been judged, labeled, lied about, and called names. The truth has been skewed, important facts left out, and biases have been painfully evident - on both sides of the issue. At one point during the past 6 months they had to stop paying attention. It hurt. It was frustrating. It was stressful. And it didn't seem fair.
More recently, the Modesto Bee has joined in telling the Bee's version of the story. Merrill Balassone is great and has been very supportive. And having the Bee want to put a piece on the front page is a pretty big deal right now. Some think it was a decent article, others thoght is was weak, abd others still thought that it painted the volunteers in the wrong light. Even though we did have some problems with the article - how things were worded, the weak title, and all of the important stuff that was missing - the Bee did the right thing by deciding to run the piece front and center. It was a good start for raising some awareness and stirring some debate. The Bee will do follow-up on the volunteers' legal struggles and will also watch what Off the Streets does in the future. Some of the facts were slightly incorrect, but the Drug War Chronicle also did a write-up. It was a pretty good piece - and really, every ally and every bit of media we can get counts for something. The more people who know about the issue the better.
Click on the links below to read some of what has recently been written about syringe exchange in Stanislaus County.
The Modesto Bee - October 25, 2009
Drug War Chronicle - October 23, 2009
With more media attention coming up, Off the Streets will post the links for you here as they are released.
