Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

A series of twelve information sheets related to HIV/AIDS, vaccines and human rights issues produced by the HIV/AIDS Legal Network. The information sheets introduce key concepts in understanding HIV vaccines and human rights. The issues addressed around HIV vaccines trials include: 1. The basics 2. HIV/AIDS, vaccines and human rights 3. Approval of HIV vaccines trials 4. Ensuring community participation in making decisions about HIV vaccine trials 5. Informed consent and voluntary participation 6. The right to prevention 7. Human rights concerns for women 8. Human rights concerns for children and adolescents 9. Human rights and involvement of vulnerable populations 10. Human rights and access to licensed HIV vaccines 11. HIV vaccines, microbicides and treatment 12. A glossary and resources for additional information

The information bulletin includes a summary of the projects funded under the first three years of the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) in Greater Vancouver; an update from the Aboriginal homelessness forum; an in-depth look at the homelessness plan in Surrey; a list of other completed community plans on homelessness; and a list of recent reports on different aspects of homelessness produced by research institutes.

Beginning in 2002, the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) conducted an environmental scan to inform the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Community Based Research Capacity Building Initiative. The scan assessed the skill levels of CAAN member organizations, barriers to participation in community-based research (CBR), and their willingness to conduct their own HIV/AIDS research. A survey was developed (attached in Appendix A of this document; a detailed breakdown of its results are provided in Appendix B) and administered to 51 participants. The scan found that research priorities include prevention and education; cultural awareness; harm reduction; and barriers to service use. Key obstacles to doing CBR include lack of direct research experience within the organizationa; limited funding for CBR projects; and challenges of involving community members in projects. Research skills needing improvement included qualitative, quantitative, survey and ethnographic research methods; proposal writing; data analysis; and writing reports. This report gives recommendations based on the environmental scan, including the need to develop training modules, workshops and practical guides on research funding, proposal writing and the research process.

A report summarizing the results of an analysis of 140 deaths from unintentional opiate overdose in King County, Washington. The report concludes that deaths from opiate overdose increased substantially in this area between 1990 and 1999. The report also lists interventions to decrease unintentional opiate overdose.