THE ROLE OF CONSUMERS IN TREATMENTS ADVOCACY

1. THE ROLE OF CONSUMERS IN TREATMENTS ADVOCACY Annie Madden, Executive Officer Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL)

2. OVERVIEW • Consumers – what does this mean? • Context – what are the key issues for people who access treatment? • Treatments Self-Advocacy – what is it and why is it so important? • Barriers – what are the barriers to treatments self-advocacy in Asia?

3. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • What does the term “consumers” mean in relation to drug treatment?: • Those who “consume” or “use” drug treatment services • “Service users” • Basically, people who are on drug treatment programs – in this case – Subutex or Suboxone treatment.

4. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • What is the context in which drug treatment happens? • What are the key issues for people who come forward for drug treatment? • What is life like for many illicit drug users?

5. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Extreme levels of stigma & discrimination; • Regularly brutalised and harassed by police; • Ostracised from mainstream society; • Criminalised by unjust drug laws; • Routinely imprisoned in inhumane conditions;

6. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Isolated from family and friends; • Treated poorly by many health services (where they exist); • Stereotyped as untrustworthy and dangerous; • Prevented from taking control of their health and wellbeing; • Vulnerable to life threatening diseases; • May even be sentenced to death.

7. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Difficult does not mean impossible • INPUD Asia – strong and growing network of people who use/have used illicit drugs and people on drug treatment • Peer-based drug user organisations – established or developing in many Asian countries at the national and local levels • Asian drug users and people on drug treatment are already speaking for themselves…

8. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Benefits of effective consumer advocacy: • The more you know about consumer needs – the more effectively you meet those needs; • Programs that better meet the needs of clients will have a better chance of retaining people in treatment; • Research evidence shows the longer people are retained in treatment the better their treatment outcomes;

9. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Benefits of effective consumer advocacy: • Drug treatment consumers often have incredibly valuable insights to offer; • Such insights will allow you to improve your treatment service and provide a program that is: • high quality; • meets best practice standards; • treats consumers with dignity and respect; and • achieves good outcomes for consumers.

10. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO INCREASE THE VOICE OF DRUG TREATMENT CONSUMERS WITHIN ASIA?

11. CONSUMERS & TREATMENTS ADVOCACY • Currently there are compulsory treatment centres in many Asian countries. • Drug treatment must not be based on punitive models that humiliate and shame people. • In some circumstances people are contracting HIV and hepatitis C while in treatment. • Drug treatment must be a safe environment using evidence-based treatment approaches and treating people with dignity, respect and compassion.