Organizing Drug Users for Community & Social Change

1. Organizing Drug Users for Community & Social Change

2. HIV/AIDS in NYC • New York City has 20% of the nation's HIV cases and AIDS deaths, highest rates in the US.

3. HIV Among IDU’s in NYC

4. Outcomes and Success • There has been an 80% reduction in HIV transmission. • NYC 1992: 50% of IDUs were HIV positive, 4% infected per year • NYC 2002: as few as 18% of IDUs are HIV positive, 1% infected per year

5. User Unions • Dutch Model • Australian Model • Canadian Model

6. Mission and Purpose • The purpose of Voices of Community Advocates and Leaders (VOCAL), the New York User Union, is to increase the scope of consumer input by involving IDU’s from all New York syringe exchange programs in the development of policies and services that directly affect their lives. • VOCAL addresses the current lack of meaningful input that drug injectors mono and co-infected have in the development and implementation of services. • Although harm reduction has become widely accepted as an effective public health intervention, drug users continue to be excluded from policy debates and program implementation, in contrast to consumers of traditional AIDS prevention programs.

7. National HCAP National Viral Hepatitis Round Table National HIV/HCV Co-Infection Coalition Care Coalition Pharmaceutical Community Meetings State/City HIV Prevention Planning Group – City and State New York City Ryan White Planning Council New York Hepatitis Network New York State Viral Hepatitis Planning Committee IDUHA Advisory Committees

8. National HCAP National Viral Hepatitis Round Table National HIV/HCV Co-Infection Coalition Care Coalition Pharmaceutical Community Meetings State/City HIV Prevention Planning Group – City and State New York City Ryan White Planning Council New York Hepatitis Network New York State Viral Hepatitis Planning Committee IDUHA Advisory Committees

9. User Organizing • Trusting relationship with consumers/drug injectors • Involvement with other advisory and planning bodies • Network with other agencies that serve drug injectors • Resources for transportation and food • Facilitate IDU leadership • Flexibility in meeting days and times • Advocacy trainings • Access to current HCV/HIV medical information

10. User Organizing • Building leadership from all NYC syringe exchange programs; considering forming chapters at each SEP or borough • Trainings to develop organizing and advocacy skills among our members • General membership meetings on the last Wednesday of every month • Steering committee meetings every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month • Committees: Housing, Health Care Access, Drug Policy Reform, and Prison Health • User-led HCV support group every Thursday • Syringe distribution (ESAP) every Tuesday and Thursday

11. Desired Outcomes • HCV care network to ensure citywide continuum of care • Policy and service delivery changes to accommodate IDU needs regarding treatment care, adherence and support services • Training for IDU's to become better advocates • Participation and placement on committees that allow IDU's to monitor and develop prevention messages and service provision

12. Current Campaigns • “Syringes in the Shelters” • Right of Return to Public Housing

13. For more information about VOCAL/NY Users Union please contact: Louis Jones, VOCAL Coordinator Jones@nycahn.org | (718) 802-9540 x 18 Jeremy Saunders, VOCAL Organizer Jeremy@nycahn.org | (718) 802-9540 x16 Web: www.nycahn.org