DATE: February 1, 2010
TIME: Noon
WHERE: Stanislaus County Courthouse
Corner of 11th and I Street
Downtown Modesto
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! Come join those in our community concerned with the public health, safety, & wellness of Stanislaus County. We will rally in support of HEP C and HIV/AIDS education &prevention through SYRINGE EXCHANGE AUTHORIZATION on FEBRUARY 1st starting at NOON (speakers @ 12:45). Volunteers arrested at a Syringe Exchange Program at Mono Park in April 2009 will attend a hearing inside at 1:30 to find out if they will be allowed to use a defense of medical necessityn when they go to trial March 23. This is a crucial phase in the misdemeanor case against the public health workers.
Meet in front of the Stanislaus County Courthouse on the corner of 11th & I in Downtown Modesto for an afternoon of solidarity against an emerging public health crisis. Come out and support common sense change for a better Stanislaus County!
- 60-90% of injection drug users have Hepatitis C.
- Hepatitis is called the "Giant in the Closet" by Stanislaus County Health Services Agency in 2008 - it is the #2 infectious disease in the county.
- The Central Valley is home to the highest rates of injection drug use in the nation.
- Injection drug related HIV/AIDS cases in Stanislaus County are among the highest in California.
But in 2008, Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors denied the Civil Grand Jury recommendations, ignored a laundry list of experts from both here and abroad, and voted against this widespread, valid, & absolutely necessary DISEASE PREVENTION tool.
SEPs provide valuable health and social services for pennies in comparison, saving taxpayers countless dollars. Prevention is far less expensive than any kind of treatment! And for many stigmatized individuals, families, and communities syringe exchange programs are their only bridge to education, empowerment, and hope. SEPs do not increase drug use, crime, or danger to communities, and they do not glamorize a lifestyle.
In fact, the very opposite is true.
For more information about what we do, to tell us your stories, volunteer, or for sources of information listed here, please contact us! This is for real.
Finally a breath of fresh air amongst the shrill squawkings of moralists and do-gooders. The fight to have needle exchange progams in Australia was a long, arduous one but finally ten or so years ago it happened. I hope lawmakers in California do face up to facts and pass a positive vote.
ReplyDeleteSending the 'wrong message' was one argument used in Australia and it looks like the same is happening where you are.
Providing clean 'fits' and other injecting equipment is, as any health care worker would tell you, going to make a huge dent in the spread of completely preventable diseases.
Good luck, you have my wholehearted support
Thank you so much Dan! We appreciate all of our international supporters! The good fight continues .... if you aren't already, become a fan on facebook... the things happening here are indicative of what needs to happen everywhere. The Central Valley of California is right at the heart of the issue worldwide...
ReplyDeleteThanks again!