7 – 11 DECEMBER, 2020 The criminalisation of drugs is the basis of systemic issues faced by people who use drugs. Acting on decriminalisation is necessary to ensure all other reforms are achievable and sustainable. COVID-19 has shown us the dangers of failing to do so; within a lockdown environment people who use drugs are forced to rely on an… Read More »#PeersInThePandemic Demand 5 – Act on Decriminalisation
30 NOVEMBER – 4 DECEMBER, 2020 For too long harm reduction programs have emphasised social control over the right to health. Punitive measures in harm reduction have restricted people from accessing services such as OAT. COVID-19 has shown these restrictions have always been unnecessary. We demand an end to compulsory urine testing, age limitations, HIV/HCV testing, non-consensual discharges, mandatory attendance,… Read More »#PeersInThePandemic Demand 4 – NO to Punitive Measures in Harm Reduction
23 – 27 NOVEMBER, 2020 Peers are central to the COVID-19 response in their communities. We call for the prioritisation of peer-led responses by directing funding towards harm reduction services led by peers as community members, and to facilitate peer secondary distribution for essential harm reduction supplies such as new injecting equipment, naloxone distribution and overdose prevention education, etc. Hashtag… Read More »#PeersInThePandemic Demand 3 – Prioritise Peer-led Responses in Harm Reduction
16 – 20 NOVEMBER, 2020 In response to the pandemic 47 countries have offered take home OAT doses or delivery. As lockdown measures are lifted some states have rolled back these policies despite evidence showing they were an essential part of keeping people who use drugs safe and healthy during the pandemic. We demand take home OAT be adopted as… Read More »#PeersInThePandemic Demand 2 – Expand & Maintain OAT Take Home Doses
9 – 13 NOVEMBER We demand that states firmly declare support for harm reduction programmes by declaring these services as essential, ensuring they remain open during lockdowns, and directing public health funding towards the maintenance, delivery and expansion of services. Download social media graphics for this week here. Hashtag of the week: #HarmReductionIsEssentialPlease use this along with #PeersInThePandemic and #HarmReduction all week Sample social media text: Any… Read More »#PeersInThePandemic Demand 1 – Declare Harm Reduction as Essential