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Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

Stories of Community Mobilization

Publication type: 
Research Paper / Project Report
Agency: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; AIDS New Brunswick; Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN); Canadi
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Date: 
2004-03
Pages: 
29
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network collaborated with six Canadian community-based organizations in 2003-2004 for a project to help communities mobilize against HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. A workshop was held as part of this project. In preparation for the workshop the Network identified and described already existing good examples of community mobilization, which were then used as models for the plans developed at the workshop. There are seven stories included in this document: the efforts of Gays of Ottawa (GO) to mobilize the community to work towards improved relations with the Ottawa police; the mobilization of the HIV/AIDS Community Ad Hoc Committee on the Definition of Disability which fought to maintain access to disability benefits in Ontario; the Listen Up! Women's Health Research Project initiated by Positive Women's Network in B.C, which addressed barriers that put women at risk of HIV; a project to build self-esteem and connection through the International Two-Spirit Gathering Movement; VANDU's fight for a supervised injection site in Vancouver; efforts to build a GLBT organization in Truro, Nova Scotia; and an outreach program by the Sonagachi AIDS Project aimed at improving prevention and human rights in the sex trade in Kolkata, India.
Keywords: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; AIDS New Brunswick; Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN); Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition (CRHC); Le Group d'action pour la prevention de la transmission du VIH et l'eradication du SIDA (GAP-VIES); Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VAN DU); Voices of Positive Women (VOPW); Gays of Ottawa (GO); Listen Up! Women's Health Research Project; Positive Women's Network (PWN); International Two-Spirit Gathering Movement; Ontario; Nova Scotia; India; Truro; Ottawa; stigma; Vancouver; BC; British Columbia; community mobilization; AIDS service organizations (ASOs); community organizations; advocacy; disability benefits; Two-Spirited; supervised injection site (SIS); women; HIV; HIV/AIDS; AIDS; police; sex trade workers; sex workers; sex trade; discrimination;

Occupational Exposure to HIV and Forced HIV Testing: Questions and Answers

Publication type: 
Brochure / Leaflet / Pamphlet / Information Sheet
Agency: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Date: 
2002
Pages: 
24
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
Document providing answers to key questions around the rights of Canadians with regard to forced HIV testing of people who are suspected of exposing others to HIV (such as doctors, dentists, police who are working and are exposed to blood). This was written in the context of recent calls for laws to force suspected "source persons" to undergo testing. Information about risk of HIV infection from occupational exposure; what to do after an exposure; how HIV testing and post-exposure medication can help workers; how workers can be protected; and the rights of people suspected of exposing workers to HIV, is provided.
Keywords: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; HIV; HIV/AIDS; AIDS; HIV testing; employment; HIV risk; workers rights; police; health care; nurses; firefighters

Human Rights, Global Responsibility and Access to Treatments in the Developing World: Presentations Made on the Occasion of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Annual General Meet and Skills Building Workshops, Montreal, 21-23 September 2001

Publication type: 
Conference / Meeting Proceedings
Agency: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Sponsor: 
Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, Health Canada
Date: 
2001
Pages: 
43
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
This document contains the texts of presentations made at the panel discussion on Access to Treatments in Developing Countries, and at the closing plenary of the 2001 Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Annual General Meeting. Mark Heywood of the AIDS Law Project provided a South African perspective on why the issue of access to medicines is critical to the response to the epidemic in that country; Marie Helene Bonin of Doctors without Borders Canada discussed reasons why medicines are not available for diseases affecting the third world; Richard Elliot of the HIV/AIDS Legal Network discussed the implications of TRIPS on equitable access to health care in Canada; and David Roy of the Montreal Centre for Bioethics presented on moral and ethical imperatives for providing affordable medicine to people in the Third World. For the closing plenary, Mark Heywood explored the links between access to treatment and the broader issues of globalization, development and human rights. Richard Elliot spoke about what Canada needs to do to live up to its obligations on the UN Declaration Commitment on HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; AIDS Law Project; Doctors without Borders; Medicins Sans Frontiers; Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Agreement (TRIPS); access to services; access to treatment; anti-retrovirals; ARVs; medicine; global economy; globalization; developing countries; development; Third World; HIV/AIDS; HIV treatment; ethics; human rights; doctors

Uptown, Downtown: The Drug Handbook

Publication type: 
Training / Education Manual
Agency: 
Streetworks
Sponsor: 
Health Canada
Date: 
2005-09
Pages: 
60
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
An educational booklet designed for drug users about safe drug practices, types of drugs and effects of drugs. Topics covered include tips for safe injecting, snorting and smoking; the uses and effects of 'uppers' like cocaine, crack, speed, ecstasy, crystal meth, and 'downers' like opiates, methadone and prescription drugs, and hallucinogens like mushrooms and acid; issues affecting women who use drugs; issues of mental health and drug use; and information about HIV, Hep C, Cotton Fever, abscesses, overdoses and other health effects of drug use.
Keywords: 
Streetworks; Edmonton; Alberta; drugs; drug use; injection drug users; IDU; women; mental health; drug treatment; overdose; harm reduction; HIV/AIDS; HIV; AIDS; HCV; Hep C; hepatitis C

Hepatitis C: A Nursing Guide

Publication type: 
Training / Education Manual
Agency: 
With Permission from the Canadian Nurses Association
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Hepatitis C Division
Date: 
2002-09
Pages: 
76
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
Guide outlining a holistic approach to nursing care of people with Hep C or at risk of Hep C. It provides basic information on the epidemiology, risk factors, modes of transmission, tests and diagnosis, prevention and screening for Hep C. It describes issues involved for people living with Hep C, as mothers, people who inject drugs, and as nurses. It describes the nurse's role in relation to Hep C, in terms of helping clients to learn to live with the virus, symptom management, side effect management, and helping patients who have other issues such as being in prison, mental health issues, substance use problems, haemophilia. It ends with a glossary of key terms, readings and other resources.
Keywords: 
Canadian Nurses Association; nurses; Hep C; HCV; Hepatitis C; prevention; treatment; risk; substance use; prison; mental health;

Unlocking our Futures: A National Study on Women, Prisons, HIV, and Hepatitis C

Publication type: 
Research Paper / Project Report
Agency: 
Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN)
Sponsor: 
Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, Health Canada
Date: 
2003-03-28
Pages: 
72
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
A report on a community-based qualitative research project investigating the perceptions and lived experiences of federal women prisoners with regard to HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). The report documents the specific needs regard HIV/HCV prevention, care, treatment and support. It explores the current responses and gaps in service in both correctional and community services for federal women prisoners. It identifies elements of good practice in the provision of services, and provides a series of recommendations for the Correctional Service Canada, Health Canada, public health departments, community health centres, and community-based organizations. The study and the recommendations are intended to help in the development of a "best practice" framework in this sector to ensure the diverse needs of women with HIV / HCV are met comprehensively.
Keywords: 
Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN); Canada; prison; prisoners; HIV; HIV/AIDS; AIDS; hepatitis C; Hep C; HCV; prison programs

Complementary/Alternative Health Care and HIV/AIDS

Publication type: 
Brochure / Leaflet / Pamphlet / Information Sheet
Agency: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Date: 
2001
Pages: 
12
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
Series of 5 information sheets by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network about complementary and alternative treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS. These include: 1) What is complementary alternative medicine, who uses it and why? 2) Ethical issues and the use of complementary alternative medicine; 3) Natural health products: regulatory issues; 4) Regulating complementary alternative medicine practices and practitioners; and 5) Key Resources on complementary alternative medicine.
Keywords: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; HIV; HIV/AIDS; AIDS; HIV treatment; complementary therapy; alternative therapy; medicine; health; health care

HIV/AIDS and Discrimination

Publication type: 
Brochure / Leaflet / Pamphlet / Information Sheet
Agency: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Date: 
1999-03
Pages: 
16
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
Series of 8 information sheets by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network about the problem of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The info sheets include: 1) A summary of the epidemic of stigma and discrimination; 2) definitions and concepts related to stigma and discrimination; 3) The consequences of stigma and discrimination for individuals; 4) Examples of discrimination and stigma in the health care, employment and income assistance arenas; 5) impacts on particular groups, such as injection drug users, women and other vulnerable groups; 6/7) responses to the problem through education, legal redress measures, and advocacy; and 8) recommendations and strategies for action.
Keywords: 
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; discrimination; stigma; HIV; AIDS; HIV/AIDS; employment; health care; income assistance; welfare; advocacy; law; policy; HIV prevention

Pros and Cons: A Guide to Creating Successful Community-Based HIV/AIDS Programs for Prisoners

Publication type: 
Training / Education Manual
Agency: 
Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN)
Sponsor: 
Health Canada, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS
Date: 
2002
Pages: 
276
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
PASAN is a community-based network and organization, formed in 1991, that provides education, support and advocacy to prisoners and their families on HIV/AIDS and related issues. This manual was written for HIV/AIDS service organizations and workers with little experience doing community-based programs within the prison system. Section One gives a comprehensive overview of facts and issues related to HIV positive prisoners in Canada, including the structure and operation of prisons, issues specific to female, transgender, drug-using and Aboriginal prisoners, HIV risks and available protections, and HIV treatment, care and support services. Section Two provides a step by step guide to program planning, which includes strategies and considerations when making contacts with prisons, doing outreach, and doing prevention and support programs. Section Three gives a list of further readings, useful websites, a glossary of common language and terminology used in prison, and the contact information of federal, provincial, territorial corrections institutions.
Keywords: 
Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN); prison; prisoners; HIV/AIDS; HIV treatment; HIV prevention; risk reduction; harm reduction; community-based organizations; injection drug users; Canada; support services; IDU

We are Part of a Tradition: A Guide on Two-Spirited People for First Nations Communities

Publication type: 
Training / Education Manual
Agency: 
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
Date: 
1998
Pages: 
61
Collections: 
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users
Summary: 
Instructional manual on how to give culturally-sensitive workshops on two-spirited people (Aboriginal people who are transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual). The manual begins with definitions of the terms heterosexism, homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia, heterosexual privilege. It then gives a summary of lesbian and gay rights, legislation, and precedent-setting court cases at the federal level and in each provincial / territorial jurisdiction of Canada. The bulk of the manual contains information on two-spirited people in terms of traditional teachings, history and spirituality, and information and analysis of the interactions between homophobia / prejudice and AIDS. The unique issues facing two-spirited women, men, and youth are discussed. The manual proposes a curriculum to be used to teach adults about two-spirited people. This includes information on cultural concepts to be taught; student activities and discussion; and an anti-homophobia work plan model to be used by Aboriginal communities. The manual concludes with a list of reading references, resources and organizations, and a glossary of terms.
Keywords: 
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations; 2-Spirited; Two-Spirited; gay men; gay; gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender; gender; Aboriginal; native; First Nations; community-based organizations; aboriginal services; aboriginal programs; human rights; discrimination; AIDS; HIV/AIDS; Canada; British Columbia; BC; Ontario; Manitoba; New Brunswick; Newfoundland; Nova Scotia; Northwest Territories; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Yukon; women; youth; aboriginal organizations; prejudice; homophobia; rights;

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