HRVic's latest program brings people with lived experience and authentic, relevant, real-world, CURRENT experience with: substance use - various substances, injecting and otherwise experience with Hepatitis B - living with and treatment of experience with Hepatitis C- living with and treatment of experience with HIV - prevention and treatment experience with stigma & discrimination in healthcare settings, in the workplace etc. as a person who uses drugs in Victoria/Australia, and/ or as a person with a BBV HRVic's lived experience speakers are trained, remunerated and given ongoing support by HRVic and choose to speak candidly of our experiences publically at forums, conferences, panels and presentations. We at HRVic and we as peers and speakers feel that sharing real experience and putting real faces to real stories is the only way educate, enlighten and inform health workers and to challenge and combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs and people with BBVs. For More Information about booking a 'Speaking Peer- spectively ' lived experience speaker or to enquire about becoming a speaker on HRVic's 'Speaking Peer-spectively' team please email admin@hrvic.org.au or call 9329 1500.

Harm Reduction Victoria is a community based, not-for-profit organisation. Our membership, staff and supporters include current and former people who use drugs. An Authentic Voice Of & For Victorians Who Use Drugs HARM REDUCTION VICTORIA PEER LED HARM REDUCTION: EDUCATION. ADVOCACY. OUTREACH. ADVICE. SUPPORT. INFORMATION. TRAINING. Some of HRVic's Projects & Programs All of HRVic's projects, programs, training, events and happenings are peer led- meaning that they are all led by people with living and lived experience of substance use and whatever that project involves ie. stigma or opioid dependance treatment or BBV testing/treatment or overdose. This is what makes all that HRVic does unique from other orgs/services that may provide a similar service. #nothingaboutuswithoutus PAMS- Pharmacotherapy Advocacy Mediation & Support A phone only service for people on pharmacotherapy (opioid dependancy treatment (ODT) who need assistance or mediation to navigate and/or remain on the program within Victoria. DanceWIze P2P Festival & Event care services On site roving & outreach Peer Led harm reduction training for event service providers & workers Health Promotion & Education Blood Borne Virus Overdose-Recognise & Respond Naloxone Administration Stigma & Discrimination VIEW ALL PROGRAMS Latest Substance News & VIC Alerts News Drug Alert-May 1 2025 Metonitazene may be being sold as ketamine/heroin News .07. 2024 VIC DRUG ALERT News 03.2024 VIC DRUG ALERT Drug Alerts DRUG ALERT- 01.2024 White powder mis-sold as Cocaine-contains synthetic opioid ‘metonitazene’ News COMMUNITY CAUTION 07.2023-Cocaine News DRUG ALERT Dec 31-2022 Drug Alerts AUS DRUG ALERT NOV 2022 Drug Alerts Ketamine Alert -NSW/Canberra/Vic News VIC DRUG ALERT JUNE 2022 News DRUG ALERT- FAKE XANAX Lived & Living Experience of drug u The Inquest into the death of Ronnie Nelson Began This Week.... Lived & Living Experience of drug u February 24 is Family Drug Support Day Events Resources HRVic's harm reduction and safer using resources available for you: *Substance Information *Naloxone *Overdose Response *BBV Prevention & Treatment Order Print On Demand or Download .pdfs Find Here Wominjeka. Harm Reduction Victoria acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the original and continued Custodians of these beautiful, unceded Lands and Waters that nourish and inspire us - where we live and work. We pay our respects to the Culture and to Elders - past and present. GET UP. STAND UP. SHOW UP. HRVic is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and is a proud supporter and ally of all communities- and recognise that people who use drugs come from all cultures, all ethnicities, all genders, all economic 'classes' and all mental and physical abilities. “Dance fused us, magical and cleansing. We were all in a swirl of color and light. It was like a rainbow,” said Baker. “A rainbow. That’s the moment when I knew exactly what kind of flag I would make.” Gilbert Baker worked tirelessly to ensure that the rainbow flag would become a universally recognised, global emblem of the LGBTQIA+ community and its proud legacy. The original 1978 flag initially had a total of eight stripes, each one symbolising an aspect of the LGBTQIA+ movement. The rainbow flag became synonymous with the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and our struggles. These included pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, indigo for serenity, and violet for spirit. This iconic symbol and its evolution have become an intrinsic part of LGBTQIA+ identity, culture, politics and society.

BUPERENORPHINE NALOXONE Suboxone Suboxone is the more widely used of the two formulations of buprenorphine available to opiate pharmacotherapy consumers in Victoria. Subutex is the other. Buprenorphine is increasingly popular as an alternative to methadone. Suboxone contains a 4:1 ratio of buprenorphine/naloxone . Naloxone, an opiate antagonist, reverses the effects of opiates. Under the brand name Narcan, it is used intravenously to assist overdose victims, and is only present in Suboxone as a deterrent to injection (see below). When Suboxone is taken sub-lingually (beneath the tongue), the naloxone has no pharmacological effect. Only 1-4% of the naloxone is absorbed by the system, and after an hour this small amount has left the system. Film & Tablets: Suboxone is available in in 2mg and 8mg strengths, coming in two forms: a sub-lingual tablet and, more recently, a sub-lingual film (similar to a Listerine strip). Both are placed beneath the tongue, where they are absorbed directly into the blood-stream through the mucous membrane. (In the case of the film, the inside of the cheek may also be used.) The effects of the tablets and the film are effectively identical, though trials of film showed a slightly higher bioavailability (i.e. just a little more reaches the system.) NB: The tablet form of Suboxone will not be available in Victoria after 31 Aug 2013. Basic Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It binds strongly to the same receptors as other opiates, but stimulates them only weakly, producing very little of an opiate effect. Once the buprenorphine molecule is locked onto the receptor, it remains there much longer than other opiates like heroin and methadone. If such drugs are taken while on buprenorphine, their effects will be much reduced. Buprenorphine’s affinity for the receptor is powerful enough to displace opiates like heroin and methadone. For this reason, the initial dose of buprenorphine should be low (i.e. < 8mg) and, ideally, the client should be in the first stages of opioid withdrawal. If a dependent client takes a large dose of buprenorphine after recent use of heroin – or before the onset of withdrawal – the buprenorphine can precipitate immediate and full withdrawal. This is an extremely unpleasant, uncomfortable experience to be avoided at all cost. The Ceiling Effect An interesting feature of buprenorphine is its ceiling effect. Up to a certain point, the more buprenorphine that is taken, the greater the opiate effect. Past that point, increasing the dose only results in a longer duration of action and no increased opiate effect. This means that some people can have their daily dose increased (usually doubled) and the dose will last for two days instead of one. This can be very useful for those who have difficulty reaching their dosing points, and can remove the need for take aways during the first month of treatment. NB: Suboxone take aways are not available in these two day doses, i.e. if you are on 8mg, and receive 16mg to take away, it counts as two take-aways, not one. Though scientific evidence is scant, this ceiling effect presumably varies with the individual. The maximum allowable dose of buprenorphine is 32mg. If Suboxone is taken as recommended, the naloxone should have no effect. Any small amount that is absorbed will leave the body within one hour of dosing. Injecting Suboxone If Suboxone is injected, the naloxone and buprenorphine will compete to occupy the receptors, causing an uncomfortable delay before any effects are felt. The buprenorphine will eventually displace the naloxone, but up to twenty minutes may pass before this occurs. If another opiate, like heroin or oxycodone, is present in the system when injecting Suboxone, precipitated withdrawal will result, as the opiate will be rapidly displaced by both the buprenorphine and naloxone. Injecting Suboxone carries serious health risks and is not recommended. If the medication is removed from the mouth prior to injection, these risks are compounded. For more information about the harms associated with injecting Suboxone, please contact PAMS. Take Away Doses of Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone) The number of take away doses available for those taking Suboxone depends on their stability and how long they have been on the program. For the first two weeks of treatment, clients must attend each day for their dose. After this, if the client is considered stable, some take-away doses may be prescribed, see below for further details: After two weeks of continuous treatment and considered stable (on the correct dose and not missing doses) – eligible for up to 2 take away doses per week After two months of continuous treatment and considered stable (on the correct dose and not missing doses) – eligible for up to 5 take away doses per week After six months of continuous treatment and considered stable (on the correct dose and not missing doses) – eligible for up to 6 take away doses per week Minimal Supervision Regime The Minimal Supervision Regime or MSR is an additional category of of take away doses available to people who have been receiving Suboxone for a considerable period of time, and who have been assessed as very stable by their doctor. Under the MSR consumers may receive up to a 28 day supply of Suboxone at any one time. This type of supply can be dispensed like any other medication in a single, labelled container. To access the MSR a client must arrange to have their GP consult with an Addiction Medicine Specialist (AMS). If satisfied that the client is stable, the specialist will then sign off on a separate, dedicated permit. It may also be neccessary for the client to have a one-off consultation with the AMS.

CHANGING LANES Deciding to go onto pharmacotherapy- whether it's methadone, suboxone or the new long acting buprenorphine injection- is no small decision. Our PAMS program has put this series of 4 videos together- covering every aspect of pharmacotherapy- from the real voices of real pharmacotherapy consumers to you to assist you in making that decision. Changing Lanes Changing Lanes Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing 20211015 720p INHSU Comm Rapporteur 08:07 Play Video Now Playing E01 Deciding To Go On Treatment 04:59 Play Video Now Playing E02 Accessing Treatment 05:31 Play Video

Information about differents drugs. Substance education. Names, chemical make-up, effects, administration, harm reduction suggestions. More info available in our substance specific brochures. Substances Information DRUGS LIST DXM MORE 2C-B MORE Nangs MORE GHB MORE ' Poppers ' MORE Nitazenes MORE Cocaine MORE LSD MORE MDMA MORE Heroin MORE In Progress.

Acerca de Annual General Meeting December 4 2024 @ 3pm Dear members, Harm Reduction Victoria would like to remind you of our 2023-2024 Annual General Meeting which will be happening on: Wednesday DECEMBER 4th 2024 at 3:00pm to 5:00pm. This year we are holding the meeting at Harm Reduction Victoria’s office at: 299-305 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056. We are also able to offer online access to the AGM via Teams. If a vote is needed for Board positions, we will arrange a process and let online attendees know on the day. We are a community, peer organisation and as such it is important that all members get a chance to be involved in our future, so please do join us if you can. Nominating for the Board of HRVic Have you ever thought of being on the Board of a not for profit organisation who advocates and works for something you are passionate about? Being on the Board of a peer-based, membership-based community organisation is a great way to contribute to your community and it can be rewarding and enjoyable. Being on the Board is also a responsibility and requires a level of commitment to attend regular meetings and do some reading and preparation for these meetings . Realistically, participating on the Board will take about 4-5 hours each month. HRVic seeks people who may currently use drugs or have used drugs in the past, and others who support HRVic’s mission and purposes, to join the Board. We want people who are passionate and willing to participate in governance or willing to learn. If you are thinking about nominating to join the Board, HRVic requires that you meet with the CEO and a member of the Board executive before submitting your nomination form. The Board nomination form needs to be received by HRVic no later than one week before the AGM. This year, forms have to be received at HRVic before midnight on the 27th of November 2024. Please organise to meet with the CEO and a member of the Board a few weeks before this date. The meeting is an opportunity for you to ask questions about HRVic, the Board and what’s involved in being a Board member. It’s also an opportunity for HRVic to find out more about you – your experiences, skills and reasons for wanting to join the Board of HRVic. Based on our legal obligations and organisational needs, HRVic reserves ththe right to not accept a Board nomination. What happens if my nomination is accepted? 1. You need to provide a short statement about who you are and why you want to join the Board. This will be sent out to the members so they can learn about the candidates. 2. You will have to complete the Board nomination form and you will have to have another member of HRVic formally second your nomination (this means having another member signing the form to say they support your nomination). 3. You then attend the AGM and speak to your nomination. Members attending the AGM vote to appoint the Board members, with a ballot if the number of nominees is greater than the number of vacant positions. Voting at the HRVic AGM HRVic members attending the AGM are asked to vote to accept the minutes of the previous AGM, vote to accept the Financial Report, vote to approve the appointment of Auditors for the forthcoming financial year and vote to appoint the nominees to the Board of HRVic. You will leave a voting expert if you came a voting virgin. Only members of HRVic are allowed to vote at the HRVic AGM. This year the HRVic AGM will be hybrid- meaning voting will be held both online and in person. If an election needs to be held to vote for members of the Board of HRVic (i.e. when the number of people nominating to the Board is higher than the number of vacant positions on the Board), we will run hybrid voting where HRVic members can vote for candidates during the meeting either online or in-person. VOTING BY PROXY If you are not able to attend the AGM, you can vote by proxy. This means you can appoint someone to vote on your behalf (using the Appointment of Proxy form). You can appoint as your proxy the Board Secretary or another HRVic member. Any HRVic member can only be a proxy for TWO other HRVic members. You can allow your appointed proxy to choose how to vote on your behalf or you can indicate your preferred candidates. The names of candidates who have nominated to the Board will be emailed to members on Thursday, 28th of November 2024 and also posted to the HRVic website. Please email admin@hrvic.org.au if you need a proxy form. PLEASE NOTE: If you are not on the list of members (including where we have your name as a nickname), you will not be able to vote. PLEASE ENSURE WE HAVE YOUR DETAILS CORRECT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN VOTE. This is especially important for members voting online and will only be able to do this if the name they use when they join the online AGM is the same as the name we have on our list of members. If you are not sure if you are a member, it is important that you confirm your membership before the AGM. You can email us at admin@hrvic.org.au to confirm your membership. If you would like to become a vote at an AGM, HRVic must receive your membership application 30 days before the AGM. AGM Forms Available Here INVITE AGENDA NOMINATION FORM 2023 Minutes VOTING INFO 2022/23 Annual Report For Online Attendees: TEAMS LINK to Join AGM 2023-24 Join AGM Online Notes For TEAMS Meeting Attendees We will have a waiting room system and will admit people from 2:30pm onwards. All attendees will be muted on entry by default. As per normal practice, we will check off members as we admit attendees into the virtual 'meeting room'. If you are a member, please ensure your TEAMS nameplate reflects your member name so we can count your vote if needed. We will assign members an “M” in their TEAMS nameplate, so that we can identify members easily during the proceedings. Members who are sharing a computer: Please message us at the start of the meeting at the HRVic Zoom Account so the Secretary can count your vote JOIN HRVIC (to Vote NEXT year) Board Nominees

Useful Links This is your About Page. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what you do and what your website has to offer. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. CanTEST The CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service , also known as pill testing, is a free and confidential health and harm reduction service. NUAA The NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) is a peer-based drug user organisation. QuHIN Office Manager Lisa Rose Product Manager Kevin Nye HR Lead Alex Young Customer Support Lead Our Clients

HRVic's PAMS service provides info and help with and around Methadone/Suboxone/Subutex programs in Victoria PAMS Pharmacotherapy Advocacy Mediation Support A phone service that assists with methadone / Suboxone / long-acting bupe injection (Buvidal / Sublocade) issues between clients and prescribers and dispensers. FREE CALL 1800 443 844 HRVic's PAMS service is Victoria's only pharmacotherapy advocacy and mediation service. PAMS is a telephone service ONLY. You will need to call the PAMS phone line if you have any enquiries or issues that are not in the Client or Providers FAQ sections. Please note: As we are a state-wide phone service, please be patient- you may get the answering machine when you call. If you do- PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE -include your first name, and a short message about your issue and a CONTACT number we can reach you on. *If your issue is URGENT, or you are calling from a prison or detention facility where a call back is difficult, please state that in your message along with a time you will call back or we can call you. Please do not keep calling if you get the answer machine as this only takes up our time checking messages when we could be calling you or someone else back. PAMS is a confidential service – we do not discuss you or your situation with any other party without your consent. (As we are a telephone service, consent is, in most cases, provided verbally.) CLIENTS New or Existing Patients SERVICE PROVIDERS Prescribers / Dispensers WHAT IS PHARMACOTHERAPY? Pharmacotherapy, when used with regard to substance use refers to the replacement of a person’s drug of dependence with a legally prescribed and dispensed substitute. HISTORY OF PAMS The information provided here is for people whose opioid dependency has currently become problematic or unmanageable for them. The most commonly used opioids in Australia today are prescription formulations (codeine, oxycontin, morphine, fentanyl, etc), illicit opioids such as heroin, and the pharmacotherapy medications methadone and buprenorphine. All opioids have the potential to produce physical dependence. Pharmacotherapy for opioid users is sometimes referred to as Opioid Replacement Therapy/Treatment (ORT), Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program (OPP), or Opioid Substitution Therapy/Treatment (OST) and now Medically Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependency (MATOD). Though maybe not for everyone, many find that pharmacotherapy has the ability to stabilise their condition, allowing them to devote more time to managing or repairing their lives. Once stabilised, clients may find they wish to strive for a drug-free existence by slowly reducing their dosage – or else they may be satisfied with a maintenance program and stay stable. Pharmacotherapy has been found to reduce opiate-related harm to both the individual and society. Though other treatments exist (cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT) , drug detoxification and (rehab) treatment centres etc., being on a pharmacotherapy program is at present our most effective answer to the problems associated with opioid dependence. Pharmacotherapy programs are available throughout most of Australia. However, each state or territory has its own pharmacotherapy policy and programs can vary considerably. CLICK HERE for PAMS During COVID19 INFO PHARMACOTHERAPY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA) There are four different pharmacotherapy drugs available in Victoria. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages. When deciding with your doctor which is right for you, it may be helpful to check out our fact sheets below: METHADONE Methadone Syrup , Biodone Forte (liquid) Physeptone* (tablet) *Only available for travel SUBUTEX Buprenorphine (sublingual tablet) SUBOXONE Buprenorphine / Naloxone (sublingual film) NALTREXONE (tablet, subcutaneous implant, injection) BUVIDAL™/ SUBLOCADE™ Depot Buprenorphine (long acting buprenorphine injection) VICTORIA REASONS TO CALL PAMS: • you can’t get a dose or a number of doses • you have been told to get a new prescriber or pharmacy due to a problem • you feel you have been discriminated against or treated unfairly by your pharmacist or GP • are thinking of starting or resuming a pharmacotherapy program and have any questions or there is a problem or concern you are travelling inter-state or overseas and are on a pharmacotherapy program and need more information travelling OR If you are a prescriber or dispenser in need of information or advice, on ANY client related issue or concern All calls are entirely confidential. PAMS is a free, partially government-funded service. HOURS OF OPERATION PAMS is open from 11 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday. INTERSTATE PHONE: PH: 03 93291500 or Email us: pams@hrvic.org.au NB: Email enquiries MAY take up to 72 hours for a response as we prioritise telephone enquiries. *Please note that our 'free-call' number is unfortunately NOT free from mobile phones. If you are calling from a mobile, let us know and we will call you straight back. OTHER STATES PHARMACOTHERAPY SERVICES NOT IN VICTORIA? If you are NOT in Victoria and you have a problem with your program, your local your state or territory drug-user organisation may be able to help you. QLD – Queensland Pharmacotherapy Advocacy Mediation & Support Service (QPAMS) PH: 1800 175 889 – a program of the Queensland Drug User Organisation (QUIVAA) WA – Opiate Replacement Pharmacotherapy Advocacy and Complaints Service ( ORPACS) PH: (08) 9321 2877 – a program of the WA Drug User Organisation (WASUA) NSW – MACS a program of Rankin Court (public clinic) PH: 1800 642 428 SA- DASSA Drug & Alcohol Services SA PH: 1300 13 1340 Check the AIVL (the national drug user organisation) website or phone AIVL directly on 02 62791600 for more info on your state.

HRVic's PAMS phone service provides info around & help with methadone or suboxone or Subutex programs in Victoria Top of Page FOR PEOPLE ON OR STARTING PHARMACOTHERAPY (METHADONE (liquid), SUBOXONE (bupe/naloxone), SUBUTEX(bupe), or BUVIDAL, SUBLOCADE (long acting bupe injections) HRVic's PAMS service has access to the latest pharmacotherapy information. ALREADY ON TREATMENT? How PAMS can help you: CHOOSE ONE I AM CURRENTLY TAKING PHARMACOTHERAPY (methadone / bupe / suboxone / long acting injectable bupe) NOT ON TREATMENT YET? I AM THINKING ABOUT STARTING or I WANT TO START TAKING PHARMACOTHERAPY FAQs Frequently Asked Questions We strongly encourage you to call us PH: 1800 443 844 so that we can make sure we thoroughly understand your situation. Scroll over the questions to reveal their answers CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE ON PHONES What is Suboxone? Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine with naloxone. Suboxone comes in the form of a tablet and a dissolvable film that is placed under the tongue. What is buprenorphine? Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid that produces weaker euphoric effects than say, heroin or methadone but it reduces or eliminates your symptoms. What is methadone? Methadone a powerful synthetic analgesic drug which is similar to morphine in its effects but less sedative and is used as a substitute drug in the treatment of morphine and heroin dependence. How many methadone take away doses (TADs) can I get? Usually 4, but COVID 19 has had a positive effect on take aways giving most clients up to 6 TADs a week. Personal Shoppers I've been told I can't be dosed at my pharmacy anymore. Are they allowed to do this? Yes. Pharmacies are private businesses. They do not have to provide a service to anybody, regardless if the person is on a pharmacotherapy program. Easy Returns My pharmacist refuses to dose me unless I have the money to pay for it? Is this legal? What can I do? Yes. Your pharmacist doesn't have to dose anyone who can't pay for it. If you need help with this, please call PAMS and we can try to work out a payment plan for you. Easy Returns My doctor has told me that I have to find another prescriber. Don't they need to find me a new one if they can't prescribe? Generally, if a GP bans a client from their practice- and YES they CAN DO THAT- they will make sure the person has a script to cover them for at least a week. Finding a new prescriber can be hard, contact PAMS as soon as you know you need a new GP and we can try to help. Easy Returns I have to go to court tomorrow and I will need another take away dose, Can my pharmacist just give me one extra? If you have used your prescribed take aways for the week, you will need to get your prescriber to add another T/A dose for this week. Make sure you ask BEFORE your court date. Some GPs will do this over the phone to the pharmacist-some won't. Easy Returns I have missed two doses this week. My script says I can have 4 take aways per week but my pharmacist is now refusing to give me any , What can I do? It is best to talk with your doctor about this. If you need help with this, please call PAMS and we can try to advocate for you. Some things to consider before going on 'the program'. The decision to start pharmacotherapy is often made in a state of crisis- in a rush, with little thought given to the long term consequences. Ask yourself a few things before taking the leap – particularly if you have not been on a pharmacotherapy program before. Is this your decision or do you feel pressured by others? Is there threat of incarceration or the removal of children? Is the program part of your parole or CBO conditions? If it’s not your decision, this may influence your chances of success. Is this the best treatment option for you at this point in your life? Why? Do you know about the different pharmacotherapy options ie. Methadone or Suboxone or long acting bupe injection? Do you know which is likely to suit you best and why? Are you aware of the alternatives to pharmacotherapy such as a detox program either at home or as part of a residential program? If you have tried the alternatives and they did not work, Why? Are you prepared to make a long term commitment? Pharmacotherapy usually works best as a long-term commitment. How long do you expect your pharmacotherapy program to last? Do you have to travel for work or regularly? It is still possible to travel (almost anywhere) when on a program, but it does mean you need to organise things in advance. Do you know about the different pharmacotherapy options ie. Methadone or Suboxone or long acting bupe injection? Do you know which is likely to suit you best and why? Are you aware of the commitments involved like visiting a GP at least monthly and a pharmacy every day (in the first few months)? Can you afford the dispensing fee (approx. $7.30 per 28 day prescription(w/ Health Care card) or $30(without)? Could you get to a pharmacy every day if it was required by your prescriber? Will picking up your daily dose interfere with your employment, family commitments, study etc? Are there service providers (doctor & pharmacist) near where you live and do they have vacancies ? Unfortunately, NOT ALL GPs will prescribe pharmacotherapy. This can be a particular problem if you live in a regional/rural area. Are you involved in any other type of drug treatment at present? (for example individual counselling) Have you spoken to others on a program? Although everybody’s experience is different, it can be extremely helpful to talk to your peers and ask them how the program works for them. Do you feel well informed? If the answer is yes, and you have decided to embark on a pharmacotherapy program, it is time to act.

WHACK magazine is HRVic's flagship publication. 37 Issues and 30 years deep, made by drug users for drug users. GET IT AT YOUR LOCAL DRUG USER FRIENDLY SERVICE, NSP OR CLINIC OR COME GET IT FROM THE HRVIC OFFICE! WHACK Magazine is HRVic’s FREE educational and informational community zine. A zine written for and designed BY people who use drugs FOR people who use drugs. WHACK is not for public consumption or sale. WHACK Magazine WHACK is an integral part of Victoria's community of people who use drugs. Our mission to advance the health and human rights of people who use drugs by sharing information, supporting and empowering each other. Currently WHACK magazine comes out, IN PRINT ONLY, EVERY QUARTER - Spring, Summer, Autumn and WInter. Due to increases in printing and postage prices and staff workloads, HRVic does it's best to keep to this timeline but can occasionally be held up. Please be patient when ordering more WHACKs for distribution and consider our back catalogue if you've run out. By providing our community with a free platform to be able to express our thoughts and feelings and that delivers factual, relevant information about issues that directly relate to our lives including up to date information about substances, and reducing the harms associated with drug use – in particular reducing the risk of HIV, hep C and hep B. Due to the diverse & marginalised nature of our community, we do our best to present the info in such a way as to have wide appeal & lasting impact & to represent the different perspectives of a wide range of contributors – from peers to researchers to carers and allies to workers and back to peers.. The information takes on an array of forms- from the informative to the ridiculous – and everything in between. We are constantly on the search for new ways to share our harm reduction messaging and to extend the reach of that message- all while staying true to our roots. HOW TO SUBMIT TO WHACK Send images or stories to samj@hrvic.org.au Back Issues - Late 1980's to TODAY! We are 50 magazines deep! The library of FREE community made magazines you see before you represents the vast body of work that HRVic’s dedicated community have created over the last 30 years plus! Back issues of the magazine are available to read in person in our library in HRVic's Community room at 299-305 Victoria St Brunswick Vic. We can provide you with a pdf of stories if you know what you are after. WHACK magazine is NOT for PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OR FOR SALE.

Button Around 170,000 Australians are living with chronic hepatitis C infection. Many Australians do not know they are infected, or that they could be cured. These people are at risk of developing liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Some people will require liver transplants, and many will not survive. They are also at risk of transmitting the virus onto others. The consequences of hepatitis C in Australia are far-reaching, but they don't need to be. Hepatitis C is treatable and curable. It's therefore essential that we test and treat as many at-risk people as we can. It's simple and cheap to be tested, and curative treatments are now listed on Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). HRVic is committed to working with the rest of Australia towards the World Health Organisation's goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. HRVic have joined forces with the Burnet Institute and EC Australia. We have developed an approach that involves peer specialists working at strategic clinical services to assist our community to navigate and overcome the barriers to treatment and to access services. Introducing the PATH program- Peer Assisted Treatment for Hepatitis. and now the PATH-Ex program- an extension of the PATH program. The aim of PATH-Ex is to ensure that People Who Use Drugs are empowered, informed and supplied with the tools needed to access information, testing and treatment for hep C. We seek to take advantage of the unique empathy and support that comes only from the peer-to-peer relationship to encourage engagement with health services and ongoing support to jump through the hoops that life can put in our way when undertaking any longer term treatment course. You can read more about these principles here . Our PATH workers are outposted in St Kilda, the city and Footscray and the west. During COVID lockdown they are only able to undertake outreach, but as the lockdown end we are hoping to be back to more hours at Access Health, Living Room and cohealth West.

This project is integral to building a strong and resilient living experience workforce and discipline and aligning the sector to better understand peer engagement and in turn offer the best possible service delivery to benefit the health and wellbeing of all PWUD PWUD accessing services fuse initiatives Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic) and the Association of Participating Service Users (APSU) have worked in partnership to support Harm Reduction Peer Workers (HRPW’s) working in mainstream harm reduction services for the last 4 years. We have been able to build on this network and increase the regularity, length, depth and frequency of meetings and support interventions. The partnership will continue to support, mentor, and build on the skills of HRPW’s funded through Reducing Harmful Drug Use Through Peer-led Network (RHDUPLN). We have secured funding to build this living experience workforce and have now become Fuse Initiatives, which includes the very important Fuse Networks (the Victorian living experience community of practice) that offers peer to peer support for this workforce. Fuse Initiatives incorporates greater “meaningful involvement of people who use drugs” and “Nothing about us without us” as core principles and practices, in the development of Fuse Initiatives. This project is integral to building a strong and resilient living experience workforce and discipline and aligning the sector to better understand peer engagement and in turn offer the best possible service delivery to benefit the health and wellbeing of all PWUD accessing services Read Fuse Strategy READ HRPW WHACK 48 Issue Harm Reduction Living and Lived Experience Workforce Discipline Framework Created by Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic), in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Health and the organisations of the Lived and Living Experience Development Project Read HRPW Framework Definitions Victoria has fantastic peer workforces with a range of goals and communities and experiences. We all utilize our experiences to work with our communities. These are some definitions of the specific workforce that Fuse is supporting: • Harm Reduction Peer Worker- someone who is in a defined peer role that brings living experience to their role. They are affected by similar issues – ie. health issues, such as overdose or blood borne virus transmission - as the community they work with and support • Living Experience -Is someone who is accepted by the community of people who use drugs (PWUD) as being part of that community. Their experience of issues related to illicit drug use is current. • PWUD – People who use and or inject drugs. The Primary Aims Provide a support function for HRPW’s through Fuse Networks ( the Victorian living experience community of practice ) Coordinate, convene and co-chair the Fuse Initiatives Advisory Group (FIAG) . FIAG has been developed and will help HRVIC and APSU engage with the funders, PLN stakeholders and HRPWs and encourage transparent information flow between all the key stakeholders Coordinate a Harm Reduction Peer Workforce strategic approach across Victoria Engage with all stakeholders, and enhance their understanding of the principle of meaningful involvement of people who use drugs, and ensure that it is a practice at the centre any work being delivered and asked of the living experience workforce and the programs they work in Key Focus Areas Of Fuse Initiatives Fuse Networks Offer support, mentoring, peer supervision to all HRPWs working in designated roles in AOD and Harm Reduction Affirm that support strategies meet the needs of the HRPWs, use yearly HRPW consultation outcomes to inform our strategies Develop support & supervision frameworks to outline pathways between support intervention to One-on-One peer supervision Develop confidential, non – identifiable means for capturing themes for support interventions Offer support to workers with living experience in non-designated roles, where possible and appropriate Fuse Training • Provide workforce development opportunities • Provide training opportunities for all HRPW’s via different platforms and meet individual skill development needs • Undertake ongoing training needs analysis development through consultation and feedback from HRPWs Fuse Development • Develop organisational readiness training, audits, and stigma and discrimination training for all staff that may work with HRPW’s with a living experience lens • Sector development and training to support a greater understanding of the benefits of the living experience peer workforce • Develop strategic framework to guide the strengthening of the living experience workforce in Victoria Harm Reduction Peer Workers are people with lived or living experience of drug use & overdose risk who are employed in harm reduction roles which promote the health & well being of people who use drugs. Key reflections • HRPW’s have access to community members that do not access mainstream health services, through connections that workers with living experience can best access • HRPW’s are a value add to the services they work in, and can act as a bridge between the service and their service users for better health outcomes • Having a network of HRPWs coming together monthly has been beneficial for all HRPWs, increased regularity and duration has been well received (Key reflections current and from HRPW Consultation, 2020)