Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Crystal Methamphetamine and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community
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Lunchtime Satellite at Harm Reduction 2008: IHRA’s 19th International Conference
Barcelona, Spain
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Monday May 12th 2008
13:00 – 14:00
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Organised by ACON (formerly the AIDS Council of NSW)
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Background
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The use of crystal methamphetamine has increased dramatically across the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. While this phenomenon has occurred across the globe, this emerging trend has been of greatest visibility in the USA and Australia, with slower uptake in the UK. Current rates of use in Australia for example are:
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- 20% of gay men have used Crystal in the past six months.
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- 32% of gay men living with HIV have used crystal in the past six months.
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- 32% of lesbians have used crystal/speed in the past six months.
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This lunchtime satellite meeting will provide delegates with insight into the lives of GLBT people who use crystal methamphetamine, from differing cultural perspectives.
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Session Format
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The meeting will be co-facilitated by Stevie Clayton OAM JP (Chief Executive Officer of ACON in Sydney, Australia) and Dr. Adam Winstock (Senior Staff Specialist at the Drug Health Services, Sydney South West Area Health Service and the Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney, Australia).
The meeting will showcase segments from Todd Ahlberg’s documentary film “Meth” - an unflinching and provocative insight into the world of gay men, which has received strong reactions and very positive reviews at queer film festivals throughout the world.
This will be followed by discussion amongst a panel of UK, Australian and USA experts to generate discussion and debate to address the following issues:
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- How can the complex interplay of drug use, routes of administration and sexual risk be managed by GLBT health organisations and mainstream services?
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- How does the lack of visibility of GLBT people legitimise the lack of appropriate harm reduction programmes and treatment responses?
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- What are the components of successful harm reduction approaches to address crystal use within this cultural setting?
- What are the key components of a GLBT culturally appropriate treatment service?
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Panel Members
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- Associate Professor Louisa Degenhardt (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia)
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- Nicky Bath (Manager, Alcohol and Other Drugs Program, ACON, Australia).
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- Dr. Peter Phillips PhD, RMN, MSc (City University, UK).
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- Allan Clear (Executive Director, Harm Reduction Coalition, USA).
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- Community Representative (USA)
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- Community Representative (UK)
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This meeting will be free for all conference delegates to attend and no additional registration is required.
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