AEGiS-14IAC: Responding to AIDS in 21st century: developing harm reduction policy and practice in african american communities.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Responding to AIDS in 21st century: developing harm reduction policy and practice in african american communities.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeD9043)

Ptah A
Harm Reduction Coalition, New York, United States

BACKGROUND: African-American communities have been hardest hit by drug-related AIDS, harm reduction remains controversial and practitioners remain isolated. Goal is to develop and implement harm reduction policy and practice within African American community-based organizations and the communities with whom they work, and develop strategies for ensuring African American leadership within the harm reduction movement.

METHODS: Developed an African American Reader on Harm Reduction which serves to support harm reduction advocacy and education within African American communities. Facilitated organizing meetings on both coasts of African American leaders in harm reduction to develop and implement a harm reduction policy agenda as a response to growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Communities of Color in the United States. Organized two free regional conferences on African Americans and Harm Reduction in NYC and San Francisco.

RESULTS: Two very successful conferences reaching over 1600 participants. Formation of the African Americans in Harm Reduction Working Group a national network of harm reduction advocates and practitioners at work on local and regional harm reduction policy agendas for African American communities. An African Americans in Harm Reduction training curriculum is being written and will serve as a national training model. Planning and organizing four community forums in New York Wasington DC, Los Angeles and Oakland to explore the opportunities and challenges facing harm reduction in the African American community. Conclusions African Americans within the harm reduction movement have suffered from a lack of visibility and organizing opportunities. These organizations need assistance training staff to better serve drug users and those with a history of drug use. Need to link the issue of harm reduction and HIV to the broader social justice issues affecting African American communities.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, African Americans, HIV Infections, Harm Reduction, Learning, Public Policy, Memory, Substance-Related Disorders, Recognition (Psychology), Social Justice, United States, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, ethics

020707
LbPeD9043