ANKORS Blog

Some of our readers who access the ANKORS Needle Exchange may have been aware of or taken part in a recent survey. The survey was administered on behalf of the BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC). It was meant to discover baselines around drug use, by region. The regions involved were: Prince George, Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, and the East and West Kootenay and Boundary areas. Our region was included as a rural example.

The reason this baseline information was being collected was to show a need for overdose first aid programs, including the use of take-home Naloxone kits. Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a pharmaceutical drug, developed in the 1960′s which is an antidote for opioid overdose. In essence, it removes the opioid from the brain of the user, putting them in immediate withdrawal, and restoring depressed body functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Naloxone has been used for decades in hospitals when prescribed opioids caused overdose in emergency and operating rooms. It is extremely effective and is a life saving intervention for individuals who experience opioid overdose.

ANKORS and the BCCDC are working toward being able to provide first aid training for opioid overdose. Work is being done to increase the availability of Naloxone, since currently it is a prescription medication. Many people who use opioids, other than as prescribed by their doctor, have difficulty accessing a physician. Furthermore, physician perspectives on prescribing Naloxone for opioid users impact how the medication is prescribed. Some healthcare and harm reduction activists feel that prescriptions of Naloxone (and training on how to use it) should accompany every single opioid prescription. As well, any individuals who identify as opioid users (for whatever reason) should be referred for Naloxone training and a take-home opioid first aid kit.

There are take-home Naloxone programs running in cities around the world. In Canada, Toronto and Edmonton are running such programs. In Edmonton, the training takes place on a drop in basis. As individuals access needle exchange services, they are encouraged to take the 20 minute opioid overdose first aid training and to take a Naloxone kit home with them to have on hand in case a fellow user overdoses in their presence. Also, they can show others how to use it, in case they overdose themselves.

For those concerned about the possibility that this training and access to Naloxone has the potential to enable opioid use, there are a few things to consider:

1. The sudden withdrawal caused by treatment with Naloxone is highly uncomfortable. Anecdotal evidence shows that users are often sick, in pain, and very upset that their dose has been wasted- especially since financial barriers may mean that they can’t easily get more. Evidence also shows that education among users about OD and Naloxone means safer use practices meant to avoid having to go though this OD-Death or Naloxone cycle.
2. Overdose and the administration of Naloxone is very stressful and can be traumatic for those who are around and actually do the Naloxone administration. There is very little time between the beginning of the OD and the start of brain damage due to depressed respiration. Those in the helping position have to be fast and efficient, willing to inject another person, call 911, and stick around with the person who overdosed, to wait for help to arrive. It isn’t easy and it isn’t fun, especially when the user is sick, in pain, and desperate to feel better-despite the fact that they almost just died.
3. Naloxone truly is a life saving intervention. To limit the availability of this training along with access to take home Naloxone kits means that society values the lives of users less than they value people in hospitals who are given opioids for medical reasons. Opioid first aid training and access to Naloxone kits means that we value the lives of users and that we don’t expect them and their loved ones to accept death as the inevitable outcome of the illness of addiction.

Give yourself a Valentine treat: come in to ANKORS on Tuesday, February 14, for free acupuncture.

What Do I Need To Know About E?

Given the 12 BC and Alberta E-related deaths, here is some information about MDMA-like substances. This information is for those who use MDMA-like substances, and for those who care about those who use MDMA-like substances. Please pass it on!

BC is the hub of Ecstasy production, and recently there has been a prohibition on the ingredients that are traditionally used to make E-like substances. The result of this is that the E-supply has been contaminated with PMA (para-MethoxyAmphetamine) or PMMA (para-MethoxyMethAmphetamine).

Often people think if they stay away from pressed pills and only use powder or caps that they are safer. We believe that, due to prohibition, the whole supply has the chance of being contaminated, now or later.

PMMA is toxic to some individuals at low doses, and quite toxic to many at high doses. One person may be genetically pre-determined to suffer fatal hyperthermia, and another may take 10 hits with no impact. So far, we are not aware of a way to tell if one has a genetic predisposition to overdose on PMA or PMMA.

PMMA causes fatal HYPERTHERMIA, or over-heating. If you are choosing to use, and you notice you are feeling hot, with a rapid heartbeat, dry hot skin, not sweating, or sweating buckets, seizures, headache, nausea, ALTERED unusual behaviour (like violence), slurring of words, confusion or breakdown of motor skills…get to the E.R. IMMEDIATELY! Even 40 minutes is waiting too long. Hyperthermia can cause massive tissue and organ damage. You will not get in trouble, just get to E.R., tell them what/how much you took and let them help you!

THERE IS NO WAY TO TREAT THIS KIND OF SEVERE HYPERTHERMIA OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL SETTING.
Ice packs or cold baths will actually cause capillaries to close, locking the heat in, so call 911 orget the person to the hospital fast.
Do not be afraid to call the ambulance or take your friend to the hospital. You will not be arrested or get in trouble. You need to tell them immediately that your friend took E and is experiencing overheating. Be assertive if you go into the E.R. Do not accept being asked to wait in another room. Be clear that your friend took E, is overheating and time is of the essence.

The high from PMMA takes longer to kick in and is very mild compared to MDMA. If you take what you believe is an MDMA-like substance, and wait the usual amount of time, but you don’t get the high you expect, refrain from taking more to increase the effects.

E, MDMA, MDA, MDE are almost always a “combo” drug, despite often being touted as “pure”. It is wise to assume that almost all hits (whether powdered, capped or pressed) have both contaminants as well as adulterants. If you are choosing to use, keep your dose low, watch for strange side effects, have one friend in your group as the ‘sitter’ and go immediately for help if anyone feels over-heated, nauseated or out of sorts. 

It is impossible to tell whether your E is contaminated, by how it looks. At this point, test kits are also untrustworthy sources of information on purity.

There is no test, other than a laboratory-run toxicology screen, that can tell you what is in your pill, powder or capsule. Reagent tests, like the ones supplied by DanceSafe or EZ, are not purity tests. These reagent tests can only look for the existence of one substance, not for the existence of many substances. In the case of poly drugs, the existence of one drug can overpower the test, and so one can never tell exactly what is in their drug. For example, if a pill contains MDMA, caffeine, DXM, Ketamine, speed and a buffer, once the MDMA-like substance has been detected, the test turns black to test positive for “E”. It can show the existence of the E-like substance in our example, but not the other adulterants and contaminants.

Because PMA and PMMA are being used to replace a newly prohibited precursor to MDMA, it is PART of the drug. This means, it isn’t a separate powder that is mixed in, and might be visible when the drug is in caps or powder. It IS the powder. We are trying to get the word out that in the case of PMMA and PMA, there is no way to tell by the appearance of the drug, in any form, if it contains these harmful items. Please share this information with your friends!

Obviously, the only way to protect yourself 100% is to choose not to take any MDMA-like substances. However, if you choose to use, then please use wisely. Educate yourself and others, and do not hesitate to contact Jamie MacBeth at ANKORS for more information(or to share your own): (250) 505 5506 or jamiemakena@gmail.com

Also, please join our Party Safe Facebook page to see and join in on the discussion of harm reduction and party drugs. We’d love to see you there! https://www.facebook.com/groups/165151413515481/

Connect with your community through a gentle and relaxing hatha yoga practice. The practice combines asanas (postures) with breath, Light and mantra. Trained at Yasodhara Ashram, on the east side of Kootenay Lake, Gordon aims to take yoga beyond a physical exercise and use it as a method to help each student access their highest and best self. His hope is to have people leave class filled with Light and with a new perspective on the day.

Classes will be held at ANKORS, 101 Baker Street, Nelson.
Fridays, beginning January 20th, from 5:30-6:30.
Please arrive between 5 and 5:15 in order to be ready to start at 5:30.
Bring comfortable clothing (warmer top and long pants are ideal) and a yoga mat or towel to practice on.

Classes are by contribution (proceeds will be shared between ANKORS and Yasodhara Ashram).

For more information, please contact Karen at ANKORS: 250-505-5506 or information@ankors.bc.ca or Gordon: 250-551-5395 or gordon.matchett@gmail.com

Come in to ANKORS, 101 Baker Street in Nelson, the second and fourth Tuesday of every month for free acupuncture, courtesy of the good people at Nelson Community Acupuncture Clinic.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Everyone at ANKORS wishes you all a very wonderful holiday season.
May your lives be filled with peace and joy and fun and contentment, during the holidays and throughout the new year.

Please join us to celebrate the holiday season at our festive open house, Wednesday, December 21, 10 am – 4 pm and Thursday, December 22, 10 am til noon.

ANKORS will be closed for the holidays starting at noon on Thursday, Dec 22 and will re-open at 10 am on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.

ANKORS: AIDS Network, Outreach & Support Society – Nelson

Hepatitis C Prevention & Support Program Coordinator

Responsibilities:

• Provide broad based and targeted primary Hepatitis C prevention and public education programming that includes comprehensive information, resources and outreach to youth, service providers, health care workers and the community at large.
• Engage with those affected by HCV, service providers, health care workers and West Kootenay communities to build capacity, knowledge and skills to provide a better and more sustainable network of support, care and access for people living with HCV as well as to strengthen our collective efforts to reduce the rate of transmission.

Qualifications:

Work Experience and/or education with respect to community development, education, health prevention and support are considered an asset. We encourage those living with and/or affected by HCV to apply.

Part-time 20hrs/wk @ $20/hr – Contract position/Maternity Leave

Closing Date for Applications: December 21, 2011

Please send resumes to:

Cheryl Dowden
ANKORS Executive Director
101 Baker St. Nelson, BC V1L 6Z8
Fax: 250-505-5507 or email: cheryl@ankors.bc.ca

For more information, please contact Cheryl at 250-505-5506

The Nelson Community Acupuncture Clinic has received funding from the Columbia Basin Trust and is now doing FREE Acupuncture Clinics twice a month: the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of every month.

The next session is Tuesday, December 13^th from 1 to 4pm … only once in December due to the holidays.

downstairs at ANKORS, 101 Baker St, Nelson … No appointment necessary!

Thank you to The Nelson Community Acupuncture Clinic and especially to Jill and Ryan. You are the best!

Come on in and try our “zero gravity” chairs … remember to wear loose fitting clothing.

Drop by or call Ankors at (250)505-5506 for more information.

World AIDS Day 2011

Every 12 seconds another person contracts HIV.  Every 16 seconds another person dies of AIDS.

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1^st each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognised international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

ANKORS and the Nelson United Church are hosting World AIDS Day on Thursday, December 1^st, 2011, 7 -9 pm at the Nelson United Church – 602 Silica St. (corner of Josephine and Silica)

Please join Reverend David Boyd and guest speakers for a candle light vigil in support and memory of those that have passed.

There will be live music featuring Marina Richards with the Metis Women’s Drumming Group and Bessie Wapp.

Food and beverages will be provided; music, thoughts and memories will be shared.

For information on HIV prevention, harm reduction, testing and support, please call 1-800-421-AIDS

Anyone who has sex without a condom or share needles when injecting drugs is at risk of HIV.

The Global AIDS Epidemic

 Since the beginning of the epidemic, approximately 60 million people have been infected with HIV and 25 million people have died of HIV-related causes.

• In 2009, 33.3 million people were living with HIV.  There were 2.6 million new infections and 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths world wide.
• In 2009, some 430,000 children were born with HIV, bringing the total number of children (<15) living with HIV to over 3 million.
• Young people account for around 40% of all new adult (15+) HIV infections worldwide.
• Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected and is home to 2/3 of all people living with HIV worldwide and 91% of all new infections among children.
• There are 16.6 million children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

In North America (as of end of 2009) there are 1.5 million people living with HIV, there were 70,000 new infections, there have been 26,000 deaths and approximately 0.5% of the adult population carries the virus.

In Canada, an estimated 65,000 Canadians are living with HIV, and approximately 2,300 to 4,300 new HIV infections occurred in 2008.