Arud Peer employees report on INHSU 2023

How are peers around the world getting involved? The Arud peers report on courageous projects that were presented at INHSU - the world's largest congress for the health of people with substance use in 2023.

Almost 800 participants from over 60 countries enjoyed a varied programme of new scientific findings, political debates and ideas for innovative approaches to care.

The diversity of the participants with a high proportion of people with their own experience, the translation of all presentations into numerous languages with the help of artificial intelligence and the extremely good atmosphere in the spacious congress building, which is also used by the United Nations, made the INHSU2023 Congress an extraordinary experience.

Arud was centrally involved in the congress planning and provided several speakers and poster presentations. Our peer employees were also involved. A report by Oliver Wehrli, peer employee at Arud.

INHSU 2023 in Geneva provided an excellent opportunity for Arud peers to connect with professionals and community members from around the world.

Throughout the INHSU, we heard numerous interesting contributions from doctors and researchers from all over the world who are helping to improve the situation of people who use substances and promote their health. Presentations were often held with the support of peers, which made it easier to reach the respective target group and increase acceptance.

Peers show initiative

Many projects initiated by peers themselves were also presented. Particularly noteworthy were the presentations by the winners of the Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award 2023: Jessica Morales and Kira Whatson. Jessica is planning to found a peer organisation in Guatemala that will focus on drug policy and the rights of people who use substances. Kira, on the other hand, is planning to develop a special programme for women, inspired by remarkable projects such as Metzineres in Spain and Chemical Sisters in Italy.

At the discussion event on substance consumption rooms on Community Day, Joana Canedo from Portugal and Mat Bon from Canada reported on how they had set up drug consumption rooms on their own initiative. In Joana's case, this was done completely unofficially and with very little money. Both peers showed a lot of courage when they started their projects and took the risk of being held responsible should something bad happen, such as violence or overdoses.

Critical voices on the project in Athens

The substance consumption room in Athens was presented at the same event and was received particularly critically by the community. It is organised like a hospital. Visitors must first see a doctor, who then decides whether they are admitted at all. In addition, the room is far away from the places where people who use substances normally meet. The community generally demands a say in the furnishing and equipment of the rooms and would also like to be able to buy small quantities of substances on site. If they have to leave the place every time to buy new substances, they still run the risk of being picked up by the police or suffering an act of violence.

The commitment does not end with consumer spaces

Consumption rooms are only part of the solution. A secure supply is also required along the entire supply chain, from production to transport and distribution. Many people in South America, for example, die in the production and smuggling of cocaine.

Other peers are more committed to improving detailed issues, such as Mat Southwell in collaboration with Unitaid. They are working to ensure that people who use substances receive suitable injection equipment or to optimise the administration of long-acting buprenorphine depot syringes.

There are many other examples of peers advocating for the rights and health of people with a substance addiction and making very positive changes in society. At the next INHSU in Athens, we will certainly see new projects and research results that demonstrate this positive change.

Self-reports

In this context, I would like to mention Louise Hansford, who took part in a panel discussion on "Surfacing productive difference". Louise talked a lot about her life and how it improved when she decided for herself and in her situation to stop using psychoactive substances altogether. One statement of hers particularly stuck in my mind: "My drug use was extraordinarily chaotic, I was regularly on the missing persons list and I was in and out of prison. Can I be such a good mother if I use drugs so uncontrollably?"