SSDP LaTrobe | Community organisation

SSDP LaTrobe

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25.01.2022 Hello all! Just a quick reminder that our annual general meeting will be held this Tuesday at 5:00 in seminar room L-1.34 of the Bundoora campus library. Come along and have a say on the direction of the club, suggest some future events, or even nominate for an executive position! ... It's a great opportunity for anyone who's sick of outdated drug policies to get involved in making change happen. We look forward to seeing you all there!

25.01.2022 worth a listen ... Join the livestream below on Sunday at 2pm to find out more. Colin Mendelsohn from Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association

23.01.2022 https://www.theage.com.au//death-can-follow-within-48-hour

23.01.2022 Every time you wash your hands and keep 1.5 metres away from others, you are curbing the spread of Covid-19. By the same token, every time a heroin user attends... a Medically Supervised Injecting Room, they are curbing the harms of their drug use on others, including the risk of spreading blood-borne viruses. Their needles are safely disposed of, they are taught safer ways of injecting, they are supervised until they recover from the effects of the drug and are then offered treatment options. Flattening the curve of Covid-19 is harm reduction in action. We should apply exactly the same approach to drug use. Fiona Patten MP Leader of Reason Member for Northern Metropolitan Region 9386 4400

23.01.2022 Some thoughts on alcohol during these covid19 times ... interesting insights from #CAPR colleagues - thanks Sarah and Michael https://www.canberratimes.com.au//will-covid-19-change-ou/

20.01.2022 More important work from La Trobe University #CAPR researcher Anne-Marie Laslett published this week https://www.facebook.com/1000026136602//2849333341830427/

19.01.2022 Time to kill? Here’s a university ethics approved study people people who have been using any illicit drugs monthly for the past year and live in Australia #ADAPTStudy

19.01.2022 Another opinion piece worths read ... from UNSW Professor Alison Ritter https://www.smh.com.au//courts-are-the-wrong-place-to-tack

17.01.2022 Great to see Mind Medicine Australia still working at a time when it is both difficult and extra important! https://www.abc.net.au//calls-for-expanded-drug-t/12147352

16.01.2022 Webinar: 10am Wed 12/8 - Psychedelics : Past, present and future https://insight.qld.edu.au//psychedelics-past-prese/detail

16.01.2022 Free Webinar - Thursday May 14 - 12 noon (for about 1 hour) Alcohol and the social determinants of health: an equity lens on interventions with guest presenter Dr. Jane Fischer https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/about/news/6011/

14.01.2022 Good news from across the ditch on pill testing !

14.01.2022 thanks to La Trobe's A/Prof Kate Seear for alerting me to this - interesting developments coming out of NSW in relation to changes in drug policy and law enforcement - watch this space https://twitter.com/Kate_Seear/status/1334045787806785536

13.01.2022 VIC DRUG ALERT New systems are starting to develop in Victoria and across Australia where seized or found substances are getting tested and shared in aler...ts like this: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/alcohol-and-drugs/drug-alerts A drug product has been found and tested in Victoria that is likely to be sold as ecstasy/MDMA but in fact contains N-ethylpentylone and cocaine. It does not contain MDMA The product (pictured to the right) is a pill/tablet, branded ‘UPS’, lime-green, speckled, shield-shaped, and approximately 8mm x 10mm x 3mm in size. While reagent testing using Mecke, Marquis, Mandolin reagents of any brand has considerable limitations, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of MDMA. Videos are available online that demonstrate safer DIY drug checking practices, (see Dancesafe dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/) You can buy kits here: reagentkit.biz. Ez-Test "substance" Testing

13.01.2022 Big news in Melbourne today ... the report from the review panel is out in the media ... https://www2.health.vic.gov.au//injecting-room-independent State's second safe injecting room to open opposite Queen Vic Market https://www.theage.com.au//state-s-second-safe-injecting-r

11.01.2022 This year the largest conference on HIV is virtual #aids2020virtual https://tinyurl.com/ya98d38d You can join some stuff for FREE ! The Global Village is a diverse and vibrant space where communities from all over the world gather virtually to connect, share and learn from each other. The free virtual Global Village is open to members of the public, as well as conference delegates, intersecting with the main virtual conference programme, featuring 220 activities from live workshops to on-demand sessions, cultural performances, networking zones, NGO booths, and art exhibits.

11.01.2022 And more drug law reform momentum in #Vancouver https://www.vice.com//vancouver-just-voted-to-decriminaliz

11.01.2022 Found this and hope the summer festival spirit returns soon!!

09.01.2022 NSW alert but not that far away even in times of covid19 ... #StaySafe people !

08.01.2022 So the national drugs household survey conducted in 2019 results are out - last one was 2016 - lots of media today - this piece in the Conversation too https://theconversation.com/more-australians-back-legalisin

07.01.2022 Time in your hands? Interested in a research project ‘EDRS’ participants will be reimbursed for their time ... get involved

07.01.2022 We’re teaming up with DanceWize for an introductory-level harm reduction workshop in Melbourne! Reserve a spot now: https://www.facebook.com/events/19400954850...2269/ What’s harm reduction you ask? A ‘harm reduction’ approach to drugs is about trying to reduce the harms associated with drug use, without necessarily reducing drug use itself! Why would you need to know about that? Because drug use happens! And we want to make it safer. For over a century, The War on Drugs has failed to reduce the supply of drugs, and in fact they’re more widely used than ever For example, illicit drug use amongst young Australian's is increasing: https://www.abc.net.au//whats-up-in-your-world-su/11525658 Ever suffered a nasty hangover or a brutal come-down? Ever had a mate go too far and end up spending your night struggling to look after them? Been at a party or festival and found yourself in a situation we’re you’re not sure how to help a friend or yourself? These are just some of the drug-related harms we want to help you reduce or prevent! ~~~~~~~~ What will be covered in this peer-led workshop? The lovely & experienced Jess Murray from DanceWize will facilitate an openbut confidential discussion covering: What is harm reduction and how can it improve your night? Drug interactions, overdose prevention & how to stay safe with alcohol Busting common myths and providing evidence-based info about drugs How to reduce the stigma surrounding drug use There'll be plenty of time to ask questions and share any of your own experiences. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ When & where: 4th March @ The Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Doors open at 5pm, and the workshop runs from 5.30pm-6.30pm. We’ll stick around after to keep chatting and then go grab a drink nearby after 7pm. Still not convinced? If this is all sounding too outside your realm of reality, never fear - no prior experience or knowledge is required and it’s FREE! ~~~~~~~ ACCESSIBILITY: This is an inclusive event and we encourage the participation of all people. We are committed to challenging the stigma/discrimination of drug use and creating an inclusive environment that welcomes the participation of all people regardless of their: ethnicity; skin colour; national origin; gender identity; sex; affectional or sexual orientation; political affiliation; religious or spiritual beliefs; disability status; neurodivergent status; neuro-pharmacological variance; blood-borne virus status; criminal record; age; parenting or caring status; and psychoactive substance preference. The Multicultural Hub is a wheelchair accessible venue. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or feedback about how we can include you in this event or future events. ~~~~~~~~~~ Who are we? Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia (SSDP Aus) is a youth-led organisation advocating for systemic, generational change in drug policy based on evidence, respect and justice. Through capacity building, research, education and advocacy, we’re empowering the next generation of leaders and policymakers to overcome stigma, unite with their peers and build powerful networks for change. Young people are among the most affected by harmful drug policies, and yet we have no voice at the table. SSDP aims to change that by mobilising students and activating youth voices in drug policy. Find out more and get involved https://www.ssdp.org.au/ DanceWize (a program of Harm Reduction Victoria (Australia)) is a peer-based alcohol and other drugs (AOD) harm reduction service that delivers services for music events and festivals. Find out more about the program here: https://www.hrvic.org.au/dancewize SSDP also leads the #BeHeardNotHarmed campaign with the support of DanceWize. Be Heard Not Harmed (BHNH) is a national youth-led campaign for harm reduction policy change, and we’re starting by activating the nightlife and festival community to make their spaces safer, more inclusive, and more powerful. We know that learning safer drug use tips is important, but we’ll all be a lot safer if we can unite together to win policy changes like pill testing, restricting sniffer dogs, and funding more harm reduction services like DanceWize. Join the campaign here: www.beheardnotharmed.com/volunteer ~~~~~~~~~~ We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the First Nations. This event takes place on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and to any First Nations people present with us today. As settlers, we ask that we reflect on what it means to profit from living, working, meeting, and partying on these lands which were taken through a process of colonisation that has been resisted for over 200 years. In particular how Australia’s colonial drug laws disproportionately impact First Nations people, and how this perpetuates this process of subjugation and oppression

04.01.2022 Registration link for this upcoming #Webinar on women who use drugs and #COVID19 9.30pm #Melbourne time on July 14 (CET 13:30) #HarmReduction https://twitter.com/higgspg/status/1278535218563932165?s=20

03.01.2022 Use of cannabis inquiry launches with call for public submissions The Victorian Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee is inviting public submissions for its new inquiry into the use of cannabis in Victoria.... Public submissions are welcome until 31 August 2020. For more information on the inquiry, go to the Committee’s website. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/ls/inquiries/article/4262 Media release here https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au//18_MAY_2020_Use_of_cann

02.01.2022 Australian Drug Users and the Dark Web (1 hour webinar) https://insight.qld.edu.au//australian-drug-users-a/detail This presentation will cover how Australians use the dark web to facilitate illicit drug use. Issues covered will include the extent and composition of drugs purchased via the dark web, and the potential harm reduction implications of buying online. ... James Martin specialises in dark web research, with a particular emphasis on the online illicit drugs trade. He has written multiple books on this topic, and has undertaken research projects in this area funded by both the Australian Institute of Criminology and the National Health and Medical Research Council.