3/19/96
PRESS RELEASE & CONFERENCE PROGRAM
For more information, contact Dave Fratello or Rob Stewart, at the Drug Policy Foundation, (202) 537-5005.
CDC, DPF to Co-Sponsor 1st Harm Reduction Conference in Southeast
Federal agency and 15 other public health groups organize conference on reducing drug-related harms
Washington, March 14 - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will co-sponsor the first Southeastern Harm Reduction Conference in Atlanta next week. The conference marks the first time a federal agency will meet with reform minded organizations to discuss harm reduction. Harm reduction is a set of strategies, based on public health principles, that encourages drug users and service providers to reduce the harms caused both by drug use and anti-drug laws.
What: 1996 Southeastern Harm Reduction Conference
When: Friday, March 22, 1996, and Saturday, March 23, 1996
Where: Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health 1518 Clifton Rd.,
NE, Atlanta
CDC's sponsorship is significant because it twice endorsed needle exchange programs in 1993 and 1994 only to have its recommendations suppressed by the Clinton administration. Needle exchange is an example of mainstream harm reduction strategies. Such programs help reduce the spread of blood- borne diseases, reduce the number of dirty, used needles in circulation and serve as a bridge between addicts and treatment services.
Other harm reduction strategies to be covered at the conference include: the role of harm reduction in the criminal justices system, treatment options, harm reduction and the African American community and youth program development.
For a complete schedule, contact: Whitney A.
Taylor at the Drug Policy Foundation, (202) 537-5005.
SPONSORS: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention * Drug Policy Foundation * Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition * National Harm Reduction Coalition * Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University * Emory University Center for Health Culture and Society * Lindesmith Center * Common Sense for Drug Policy * Criminal Justice Policy Foundation * Summerhill One-to-One * Emory Harm Reduction Working Group * Sisterlove, Nyarko and Associates * Georgia AIDS Coalition * North American Syringe Exchange Network * Georgia Men's Health Education Network * Southeast AIDS Training & Education Center.
HARM REDUCTION
Harm reduction is a model and a set of strategies, based in the public health ideology, that encourage users and service providers to reduce the harm caused by licit and illicit substance use. In allowing users access to the tools needed to become healthier, we recognize the competency of their efforts to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.
The Atlanta Harm Reduction Working Group Conference is a two-day meeting designed to advance harm reduction in the Southeastern United States. Although this area of the country is a focal point for several prominent schools of public health and government controlled health agencies, most local policies do not use public health or harm reduction when dealing with substance users.
This conference is designed for health care workers, social service providers, outreach workers, drug treatment workers, educators, lawyers, law enforcement officials, researchers and academics for education on harm reduction policies. The specific objectives include presenting practical strategies for incorporating harm reduction into existing services and programs; providing local and national examples of successful harm reduction strategies; and developing networks of people who are or will be working in the field of harm reduction.
The conference will be at the campus of Emory University in the Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta. Hotel rooms will be reserved at the Emory Conference Center Hotel located across the street from campus.
DATES/TIME:
Friday & Saturday, March 22 & 23, 1996
Friday: 8:30 am-5:30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am-3:30 pm
LOCATION:
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
1518 Clifton Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
REGISTRATION:
Mail a $75.00 check or money order payable to Ariane Kraus with the enclosed
registration form, indicating Atlanta HRWG Conference in the check note.
The deadline for full refund is March 20, 1996. On-site registration is
available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
353-A Ivy Place Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 616-7633 (daytime)
(404) 370-0583 (evening)
(404) 880-9464 (fax)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cc.emory.edu/SEATEC/ahr.html
CONFERENCE PROGRAM:
Friday, March 22, 1996
8:30-9:30 am Registration & Coffee
Rita Anne Rollins Room-8th Floor
9:30-10:00 am
Welcoming Remarks by Sponsoring Agencies
* Jim Curran, MD, MPH, Dean, Rollins School of Public Health
* Ariane Kraus, Coordinator Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
* Sara Kershnar, Program Director, Harm Reduction Coalition
* Ethan Nadelmann, JD, Director, The Lindesmith Center
* David C. Condliffe, Exec. Dir., The Drug Policy Foundation
10:00-11:00 am
Introduction & Keynote Address
* Jim Curran, MD, MPH, Dean, Rollins School of Public Health
* Steven Jones, MD U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
11:15 am-12:30 pm
What Is Harm Reduction?
* Michael Poulson, MPH, Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
* Imani Woods, Training Specialist, Progressive Solutions
* Jon Paul Hammond, Harm Reduction Coalition
* Margaret Kadree, MD, Morehouse School of Medicine
* Cheryl Simmons, SISTERS
12:30-1:45 pm Lunch
Rollins School of Public Health-Working Groups
2:00-3:45 pm
Drug Treatment, Twelve-Step & Harm Reduction:
How They Best Relate
* Imani Woods, Training Specialist, Progressive Solutions
* Nana Nyarko, Nyarko and Associates
* Bruce Stepherson, NDRI
* George Kenney, AIDS Action Committee
2:00-3:45 pm
Harm Reduction in the Black Community: Key Challenges and Effective Techniques
* Michael Poulson, MPH, Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
* Ricky Bluthenthal, Harm Reduction Coalition
* Ben Selasi, MPH, MSW, GA Men's Health Education Network
* Dazon Dixon, Executive Director, Sisterlove
* Cheryl Simmons, SISTERS
2:00-3:45 pm
Harm Reduction & the Criminal Justice System
* Eric Sterling, JD, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
* Nicholas Pastore, Chief of Police, New Haven, CT
* Albert Byrd, Starr Team
* Cheryl Epps, Dir. of Government Affairs, the Drug Policy Foundation
* Nancy Lord, MD, Attorney at Law
2:00-3:45 pm
Needle Exchange, a Harm Reduction Intervention: Saving Lives One at a Time
* Dave Purchase, North American Syringe Exchange Network
* Ariane Kraus, Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
* Mark Kinzly, Bridgeport, CT, Department of Health
* Jon Paul Hammond, Harm Reduction Coalition
2:00-3:45 pm
Reaching Youth
* Whitney Taylor, The Drug Policy Foundation
* Heather Edney, Santa Cruz Needle Exchange Project
* Rosa Colon, Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center
* Abeni Bloodworth, Summerhill One-to-One
* Gwen Alford, MPH, Acupuncturist Rita Anne Rollins Room-8th Floor
4:15-6:00 pm
Harm Reduction: The New Paradigm for Public Health
* Jim Curran, MD, MPH, Rollins School of Public Health
* Bob Fullilove, Asoc. Dean, Columbia University School of Public Health
* Margaret Kadree, MD, Morehouse School of Medicine
* Claire Sterk-Elifson, PhD, Women's and Childrens Center
Saturday, March 23, 1996
9:30-10:00 am Coffee
Rollins School of Public Health
10:00 am-12:00 pm
Working Groups-Repeated
12:00-1:30 pm Lunch
Rita Anne Rollins Room-8th Floor
1:30-3:30 pm
Where Do We Go From Here?:
Community Organizing and Grass-Roots Policy Change
* Sara Kershnar, Harm Reduction Coalition
* Joyce Perkins, Nashville Needle Exchange Program
* Dave Purchase, North American Syringe Exchange Network
* Cathalene Teahan, Georgia AIDS Coalition
* Albert Byrd, Starr Team
3:45-5:30 pm
Southeast Harm Reduction Coalition Meeting
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