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“50 Best” Collection on Tobacco Harm Reduction
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 In March 2007, IHRA launched the second in a series of “50 Best” document collections – this time focusing on Tobacco Harm Reduction. The “50 Best” collections have been created by IHRA in order to provide free, accessible harm reduction resources on its website. The idea is to highlight around 50 papers which best summarise the evidence-base, reasoning and justification for various harm reduction interventions and approaches. These resources can then be used by other researchers, policy-makers, advocates or anyone interested in the field.
This particular set of documents was the result of funding from the Open Society Institute (OSI), and was chosen by Ann McNeill (Professor in Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Nottingham) with the support and guidance of IHRA and an International Reference Panel. The idea is to provide a one-stop resource centre for anyone who is interested in how harm reduction principles can be applied to people who are unwilling or unable to give up tobacco and/or nicotine (the psychoactive drug contained in tobacco). Most of the documents in the collection are freely available to download through the IHRA website.
Despite the fact that tobacco use is being significantly reduced in many countries, an estimated 10 million people will die as a result of their tobacco use by 2020 if current smoking patterns continue. Tobacco harm reduction approaches are therefore aimed at reducing the adverse effects of tobacco use for those who continue to use the drug. They should be used alongside strategies which aim to help people stop using tobacco, prevent people using tobacco in the first place, and aim to reduce the exposure of non-smokers to tobacco harms (passive smoking etc).
The premise behind tobacco harm reduction is that most tobacco use is underpinned by a dependence on nicotine. However, it is not the nicotine itself that causes most of the harm – it is the other 4000 constituents in cigarette smoke (of which 60 are known carcinogens). Drawing an analogy with illicit drug use, the cigarette is the equivalent of the ‘dirty syringe’. Consideration therefore needs to be given to separating the drug from the delivery system, and this collection examines the rationale and evidence behind less harmful nicotine delivery systems.
It is hoped that, by providing this collection, IHRA will be able to raise international awareness of tobacco harm reduction approaches and some of the issues and debates in this field. Until now, there has been no single, readily accessible and up-to-date source of key documents on this topic. The collection is separated by sub-topics (such as smokeless tobacco and ‘light’ cigarettes), and is fully searchable on the website.
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Click here to view the IHRA Key Publications page
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Click here to view an overview of the “50 Best” collections in general
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Click here to see the collection on Tobacco Harm Reduction
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18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm - Update
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We are now entering the final straight – with just a few weeks to go before the 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm in Warsaw, Poland (13th – 17th May 2007). If you haven’t done already, now is the time to visit www.harmreduction2007.org, register online and start arranging accommodation, visa applications and travel.
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Registrations
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This year’s online conference system for Warsaw has received more registrations of interest than any other IHRA conference (with nearly 3000 people signed up). There are also currently more than 600 people who have paid online for their places. It only takes a few minutes to register your interest online and ensure that you receive the latest news and information for this event.
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Travel
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One of the many deals that we have made for delegates in Warsaw is discounted flights with LOT Polish Airlines - the official appointed carrier for the 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm. LOT have offered discounts of 30% for anybody travelling Business Class on any of their flights, and 25% for anybody travelling Economy Classes Y, B, E, M, H, K, or Q. Further details are available online once you have registered for the conference.
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Accommodation
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Although people can register and pay up until 7th May 2007, hotel rooms at the conference venue (the Gromada Hotel) are at a premium. The Gromada is near Warsaw airport and a taxi or bus journey away from the city centre - where most of the other available hotels are - so we recommend that you book immediately, if you wish to avoid this journey every morning! Please visit the conference website’s accommodation section for more information and a booking form.
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Visa Applications
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If you planning to travel to Warsaw from outside of the European Union, the chances are that you will need a visa to travel to the conference. As this process can often take many weeks (depending on which country you are travelling from) – now is the time to apply for a visa. This way, if any problems arise, there is still time to deal with them. In order to apply for a visa, you may wish to download a formal invitation letter for the conference and this can be done by registering and logging on to the registration system (the “Invitation Letter for VISA Purposes” should be the fourth option listed for you). If you experience any problems, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Team in Warsaw.
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Conference Programme
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The conference website is also the place to go to view the draft conference programme which although subject to change, gives a solid guide to the wide range of sessions, topics and presentations scheduled during the event. The conference programme will comprise around 60 formal sessions over the 5 days – supplemented by the satellite events, lunchtime sessions, extra meetings and the film festival and photo exhibition!
We look forward to seeing you in Warsaw!
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Harm Reduction - Coming of Age: The Challenge for Nurses
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 As preparations heat-up for the IHRA conference in May, the International Nursing Harm Reduction Network (INHRN) and IHRA are pleased to announce a satellite event entitled “Coming of Age: The Challenge for Nurses”.
The event is aimed at anyone working in the field of harm reduction nursing or wishing to expand their knowledge of the care of people with substance use issues. It will take place on Sunday 13th May 2007 at the Gromada Conference Centre (the venue for the 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm). It is the second annual nursing satellite dedicated specifically to harm reduction practice (the first taking place alongside last year’s IHRA conference in Vancouver).
There are over 12 million nurses, midwives and health visitors in the world, and they are key players in the promotion of harm reduction in health care practice - often coming into contact with people with substance use issues when they are at their most vulnerable. In so many ways, nursing is harm reduction, yet there has been little focus to date on the roles played by these professionals.
Across the world, this group of workers regularly use harm reduction interventions and approaches to eliminate bacterial and viral infections. Nurses and their colleagues regularly act as agents of health behaviour and lifestyle changes for the individuals that they treat, and their environment in and out of healthcare settings. They also play a vital role in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne viruses.
As nurses working on the front line for harm reduction, it is time to gather together to share knowledge, best practice and experiences. The INHRN cordially invites you to join them for this year’s satellite – which promises to be a day filled with interesting topics and discussions. There will be presentations from (among others):
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- Dr Peter Carter OBE, RN, MBA, PhD General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, UK
- Irene Goldstone RN, BN, MSc Director, Professional Education and Care Evaluation, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia School of Nursing, Canada
- Steve Tutty, RN, BN, MSc Lead Clinical Governance Manager, Central North West London, NHS Mental Health Trust, Substance Misuse and Prison Services, UK
- Meaghan Thumath, RN, BSN, MScPH(c.) Street Nurse, Outreach Division of STI/HIV Prevention and Control, BC Centre for Disease Control, Canada and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Rod Thomson, FRCN, RN, MEd, MSc, Associate Director of Public Health, City Safe, Liverpool, UK
- Stephane Ibanez De Benito, RN, MSc Substance Misuse Primary Care Service Development Manager, Brent Primary Care Trust, Substance Misuse Management Project, UK
- Dana Murphy-Parker, RN, MS, CNS, University of Wyoming, Fay W Whitney School of Nursing, USA
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INHRN encourage you to attend this dynamic and innovative satellite event. Registration is free of charge (although you must register for the full conference in order to attend). To register for this free satellite event, please download the registration form and email to Raj Boyjoonauth. Please note that, in order to attend this INHRN event, you must also be registered for the main conference. For more details on conference registration, please visit www.harmreduction2007.org
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 Poster Submission Procedure [PDF: 15KB]
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Click here to read more about INHRN
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Call for Conference Hosts for 2009
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IHRA is currently seeking expressions of interest from organisations who wish to host our international harm reduction conference in May 2009 (which will be the 20th in this series of conferences). The conference is a way of sharing knowledge and supporting those working in the harm reduction arena around the world. It can be used as a vehicle to promote change and support developments in the field in the host country and regionally. The conference is a great opportunity for the hosts to promote their services, city, country and achievements.
IHRA has always employed a policy of moving the International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm around the world. The first conference took place in Liverpool in 1990 and the event has since been held in Europe, Asia, Australia, South and North America - reflecting its global appeal.
Since this year, IHRA has entered into a unique management agreement with the Conference Consortium - a professional event management organisation. The Conference Consortium will co-ordinate and manage the complex logistics of the conference. Importantly, this also means that the financial risks associated with events on this scale lie with the Conference Consortium and IHRA (although we are happy to discuss other arrangements where these might be appropriate).
With the constant support of IHRA and the Conference Consortium, the role of the local host organisation will be to assist in local communication and promotion, engage with discussions and decisions concerning the conference programme and themes (forming an integral part of the Executive Programme Committee), identify potential venues and sponsors for the conference, and help to engage with local and national politicians and other key players.
The annual IHRA conferences also involve numerous satellite meetings and social events which seek to include elements of local culture to ensure that those attending gain at least some knowledge of the country they are visiting. The scale of the latter activity is up to the local host and dependent on available resources.
The selection of the conference host is a two stage process.
Initially, if you are interested in hosting the 2009 event, we would like to hear from you by May 1st 2007, so that we can begin to consider the options available. At this stage, we just require an initial expression of interest (signed by the Chief Executive Office of the host organisation), which should be no longer than two pages and should include the following:
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- The name and address of the organisation (and a lead contact person)
- A brief description of the host organisation (including their legal status, structure and financial resources)
- Initial information about potential conference dates, locations, venues, prices and the availability of accommodation (taking into account that the conference regularly attracts over 1200 delegates from around 90 countries)
- Information on the potential national and international support for the conference
- An outline of the key benefits and outcomes from holding the conference in your country or region
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We hope the above gives an indication of what is involved in being the local host for the conference. IHRA and the Conference Consortium can provide a more detailed specification to any interested organisations on request.
If you have any further questions, please contact:
Paddy Costall (Conference Director)
34 Bloomsbury Street
London
United Kingdom
WC1B 3QJ
E-mail: Paddy Costall
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Completed expressions of interest should be sent to IHRA's Mailbox by Thursday 1st May 2007.
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Election of New IHRA Directors
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Nominations are currently being invited for the election of four Directors of the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA). Nominations should be received no later than 30th April 2007, and the elections themselves will be held during the IHRA’s Annual General Meeting (Monday 14th May 2007 - during the 18th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm ) in Warsaw, Poland).
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Nominations must be sent by email or letter to the Secretary of the Association, Bill Stronach, care of:
Jennifer Curcio
International Harm Reduction Association
c/o Australian Drug Foundation
PO Box 818
North Melbourne VIC 3051
Australia
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Email IHRA
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Nominations must include the following information:
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- The name and contact details of the person being nominated
- Confirmation in writing from the person being nominated that they would be willing to serve as a director if elected
- The name and contact details of the person making the nomination
- The name and contact details of a second person who supports the nomination
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The people making and supporting nominations must be paying members of the Association on the date that the nomination is sent. Please note that if you have “free non-voting” membership, you are not eligible to nominate unless you upgrade your membership. Persons who are nominated do not need to be members of IHRA, but they do need to become members if they are elected as a Director.
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Background information
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IHRA is a charitable company registered under Company Law in England and Wales. Details of IHRA’s legal incorporation can be found in the Governance section of the website.
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IHRA is governed by up to twelve Directors who are elected on a three year basis. These Directors comprise the Executive Committee of IHRA. The Executive Committee is responsible for policy and oversight.
The Executive Committee meets a minimum of four times a year - three times a year by teleconference and once a year in a full meeting during the annual IHRA conference.
Four members of the board are due to retire having served three years. Members retiring in 2007 are Patti Spittal, Bill Stronach, Emilis Subata, and Alex Wodak. Retiring Directors are eligible for re-election.
Gerry Stimson
Executive Director
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March 2007 Article of the Month
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Csete J & Wolfe D (2007) Closed to reason: The International Narcotics Control Board and HIV/AIDS. Toronto / New York: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network & the International Harm Reduction Development (IHRD) Program of the Open Society Institute.
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Within the United Nations system (which is, by and large, responsive, open and supportive of harm reduction approaches) lies an insular, unaccountable and controversial body called the International Narcotics Control Board. This report critically analyses the performance and processes of this group in terms of harm reduction, human rights and global responses to HIV/AIDS. The authors conclude that the INCB is too secretive, their statements are often not evidence-based and contradictory, and they do not use their influence enough to support harm reduction interventions.
The INCB was established as a result of the United Nations 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (as amended by a 1972 protocol), and acts as an independent and “quasi-judicial” group to monitor how the United Nations drug conventions are being implemented. Their main activities are an annual report (released around this time each year), and visits to around 20 countries a year. Although they do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, they have an unquestionable influence over its proceedings – the INCB annual reports are released in conjunction with the annual Commission on Narcotic Drug meetings in Vienna, and are frequently quoted and cited by the United Nations and its member states.
This report discusses the role, position and performance of the INCB in terms of harm reduction (and specifically opiate substitution treatment, safer injecting facilities, and needle and syringe exchange schemes) and the human rights of people who use drugs. Consistently over time, the INCB reports and statements have failed to acknowledge international best practice and positive developments in harm reduction (such as in Iran and Malaysia). They have also consistently failed to criticise (or even mention) international examples of worst practice or human rights violations (such as the banning of methadone in Russia, the mass incarceration and killing of drug users in Thailand, and annual public executions of drug offenders in China on June 26th (the UN’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking).
This report was produced jointly by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the International Harm Reduction Development (IHRD) Program of the Open Society Institute. The authors analysed all the available reports, speeches and statements that had been accredited to the INCB and its members. This work was hampered by the fact that INCB meeting minutes are never released, no current or former INCB member responded to their requests for information, and the INCB secretariat themselves would not answer the questions that they had – further demonstrating the closed nature of the Board.
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Click here to download the report [PDF: 690KB]
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Drug Consumption Rooms: Special Edition of the IJDP
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The latest issue of IHRA’s official journal – the International Journal of Drug Policy - has a special focus on drug consumption rooms (DCRs), drug use environments and harm reduction. Volume 18, Issue 1 opens with an editorial piece from the guest editors Thomas Kerr and Jo Kimber, which considers the importance of drug use environments and “the role that place and setting can play in shaping the health of individuals and populations”. Throughout the issue, this theme is explored through original research papers and commentaries relating to public injecting, DCR interventions and harm reduction.
Several of the papers in this issue reflect upon a recent needs assessment conducted by the UK’s Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms (which was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation). This report supported the piloting of DCRs in the UK and, in their commentary paper, Charlie Lloyd and Neil Hunt reflect upon the findings of the assessment and the negative policy responses that it received from the UK Government. Linda Cusick and Jo Kimber then discuss the connections between urban regeneration and the establishment of DCRs by drawing on perceptions of public injecting in four urban areas. Neil Hunt et al then present findings of a survey of UK needle exchange attendees, which examines the prevalence of public injecting and how willing drug injectors would be to use a drug consumption room in their locality.
From Vancouver in Canada (where a DCR facility – known as Insite - has been operational for several years), Will Small et al use ethnographic methods such as photographic images to understand the physical environment, social context and risks of public injection in the city. Thomas Kerr et al then use qualitative interviews with Insite clients to demonstrate how this facility is perceived as reducing the risks of drug overdoses. As a result of environmental factors such as the presence of medically trained staff, the absence of time pressure when injecting and the feeling of being “safe”, DCRs are associated with much lower overdose risks than public injecting. In addition to these research papers, Dan Small offers a thought-provoking commentary on the politics of addiction, the evidence behind DCRs and the uncertain future of Insite in Vancouver.
Elsewhere in the issue, Michelle Firestone et al survey people in Ontario, Canada to examine public opinions about DCRs and heroin prescribing interventions. The Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Australia also receives attention, with Allison Salmon using longitudinal community telephone surveys to examine trends in the public perceptions of the facility. Since the DCR opened in Sydney, local residents and businesses have been less likely to report seeing publicly discarded injecting equipment or public injecting.
This special issue provides further ammunition to the campaign to increase the global coverage of DCRs. As of 2006, these facilities exist in Australia, Canada, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland – and have a strong evidence-base behind their operation and harm reducing potential. Perhaps most significantly, there has never been a fatal drug overdose in any of these facilities around the world – despite the huge number of injections that have taken place in DCRs.
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Click here to view this IJDP Special Issue (Volume 18, Issue 1)
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Click here to view the summary report from the UK Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms
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Click here to view the full report from the UK Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms
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Click here to visit the official website of Insite (the Vancouver DCR)
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Click here to visit the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre website
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