After almost one century of international polices focused on the repression and the prohibition of certain substances,
it is the moment to
promote a human approximation that is socially oriented and moreover,
more effective.
The main objective is to protect the health of
controlled drugs users
and the recognition of all the affected people
in a direct or indirect way.
CATNPUD
Catalan Network of people who use drugs
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Lighting
candles, offering of flowers, music and dedications
from family and
friends
to the disappear ones because of the drugs.
|
The
21st
of July is a day for remembering and
honouring:
Criminalized
or imprisoned people for their addiction.
Those
ones who were dead due to adulterant substances, non-regulated, from
the black market or from infections related with the ingestion
without been able to have any access to a damage reduction program.
People
who were dead due to an overdose, have given up on the fight, or
cannot fight anymore.
Those
ones who were dead due to disease, violence or executions in a prison
or challenging the law to obtain the drug or the substance.
The
solution to this problem is a better legislation and regularization
that is adapted to the reality.
Nowadays, the illegal drug market has
become in a lucrative business handled by criminals.
On another note,
the main aim from legal approach, mostly of it, is about the
punishment and not about helping and solving the problems.
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Lecture
of the CATNPUD declaration.
Since 2003, more than 50 people were dead
in Reus in the war against drugs.
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We consider this as positive the interest of the local press for the workshop.
After almost 20 years working for the user’s rights and in favour of the public health, ARSU is having a good recognition, specially in Reus and has been involved in more work groups.
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The first ARSU’s appearance on media.
Interview in the newspaper EL PUNT 13th June 1999
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21st
June 2018, Canal Reus TV television news
The broadcast of the workshop in the social network was though the hashtag #NoMasWarOnDrugs:
#NoMasWarOnDrugs see what happen in Catalunya @idpc @AteneuRaval @euronpud @INPUD @Cat_FAC @salutpublicabcn @CreuRoja_Salut @aferssocialscat @CorrelationNet @echelecabeza @HRInews @HarmReduction @hr @SDPcampaign @Intercambios_AC @FederacionFAC @NGO_ICEERS pic.twitter.com/DE9fQ0kYRc— CATNPUD.org (@CATNPUD) 24 de juliol de 2018
Step by step, we are extending the perspectives of this phenomenon
* * *
That
same day, Canal Reus TV television news was starting with the news
that ARSU was detecting an increase in the injected consumption.
Antoniu Llort, anthropologist of the Addictions Service and Mental Health of Hospital Universitari Sant Joan and member of ARSU:
“Sometimes the selling points change. For example, it might be possible to stop selling or buying around Tarragona and they would go to Reus or vice versa (…) it is a problem of the Public Health”
The
ARSU association has a tight collaboration with the reception centre,
activities and reduction of the damages “La Illeta” and
participates in awareness campaigns, prevention and attention to
overdose.
Quin Gómez, ARSU’s president:
“the project DI-PI means “diversification of needles exchanging points” and it was created so people could have access to this sterilized material and not sharing or reuse the needles, that could spread infectious diseases”
Indeed, the increase in the injected consumption was detected because of the dispensing sterilized material.
ACTIVITY
OF THE EXCHANGING NEEDLES POINTS IN REUS (2016 – 1ST
trimester 2018)
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| REFERENCE: Addictions Service and Mental Health of Hospital Universitari St Joan (Reus) |
Given
needles Returned
needles
With
this, the activity of the ARSU is concentrate
on the weekly explorations and the retirement
of the needles from the public spaces.
Collecting in 2017, 9,639 needles
that represent 75,9 % of the regained needles.
on the weekly explorations and the retirement
of the needles from the public spaces.
Collecting in 2017, 9,639 needles
that represent 75,9 % of the regained needles.
 |
| Example of the weekly collection |
Example of ARSU's action (2016):
because of the international day of the fight against hepatitis (28th July),
ARSU will lead the cleaning of exclusion and hazard spaces.
Claiming the creation of Consumption rooms, supervised and hygienic,
resources of reducing damages and risks and the improvement,
locally and globally, of the actual drugs polices.
In conclusion, DIPI’s data and the ARSU’s activity show a function of education and constant Public Health during time:
 | |
| REFERENCE: Addictions Service and Mental Health of Hospital Universitari St Joan (Reus) |
But the exchanging has suddenly dropped since 2011 was robbed a recovery machine that still has not been renewed.
The
absolute data from 2017,
(adding the total amount of needles and kits dispensed in the machine, the Addictions Service and Mental Health, medical emergencies, ARSU, pharmacies and La Illeta)
are the
following:
YEAR 2017
Given needles: 28623
Returned and regained needles: 12700
* * *
Good work!
Translation by: Anna Poveda
@annapovedat
