Thursday, December 2, 2010

December Events- Special Holiday Schedule

This month we move into our new office at 149 Turk Street! We are very excited to have our own space in the Tenderloin. More information on office hours & volunteer opportunities coming up in 2011!
Many thanks to the SF Drug Policy Alliance Office for letting us use their meeting space since July!

  • Tuesday, December 7, 2pm: Planning Committee Meeting, NEW OFFICE!! 149 Turk St
  • Friday, December 10, 11am: Alliance for Saving Lives (Safe Injection Site) meeting, Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St
  • Wednesday, December 15, 5:30pm: General Meeting, Drug Users' Union Office, 149 Turk St... pizza provided!
Hope to see you this month!

Monday, November 1, 2010

November Events

November's schedule is slightly shorter due to Thanksgiving and the Harm Reduction Coalition's conference mid-month.

  • Tuesday, November 2, 2pm: Planning Committee Meeting - Drug Policy Alliance, 131 10th St
  • Wednesday, November 10, 5:30pm: General Meeting- Drug Policy Alliance, 131 10th St
  • Monday, November 15- "Drug Resistance" 'zine content deadline! Email sf.users.union@gmail.com or call 415-990-3827 if you have content you'd like to submit.
  • Tuesday, November 16, 2pm: Planning Committee Meeting, Drug Policy Alliance, 131 10th St
See you soon!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Isaac & George on the Harm Reduction Coalition's Podcast

http://harmreduction.org/article.php?id=1115

Check out podcast #4 to hear Isaac & George talk about the Drug Users' Union and our trip to Sacramento for the Moms Agains the War on Drugs rally!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Drug Users' Voting Guide to District 6

big_4181_FIGHT-for-your-RIGHTS[1].jpgOn November 2, we will vote for a new supervisor to represent SOMA, the Tenderloin and parts of the Mission. We need a candidate who is going to fight for the health and safety of drug users, and who isn’t afraid to look for new solutions. To figure out where the candidates stand on our issues, we wrote up and sent them a survey. Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde, James Keys, Jane Kim, Jim Meko, Debra Walker and Elaine Zamora responded. Theresa Sparks, h Brown and Matthew Drake were sent surveys, but did NOT respond. Read on to learn how many of the candidates feel about Safe Injection Sites, Harm Reduction, and homelessness! And don’t forget to VOTE!

For more info: visit www.sfdrugusersunion.org or call 415-990-3827


We formed the Drug Users’ Union because drug users are underrepresented experts on issues of drug user health and safety. What would you do to ensure drug users’ voices are heard in relevant policy arenas?

Anna Conda: There is often a stigma or need to change the behaviors of drug users and I find this attitude counterproductive to the real needs of people who are using. I would try to continue to focus on issues surrounding peoples’ needs, and not ways to change them.”

James Keys: I have fought for harm reduction to be implemented throughout the Department of Public Health and the Community Behavioral Health Services to all those who seek services and care.”

Jane Kim: “I am committed to the principles of harm reduction and believe that as a city we must do more to ensure that policies such as harm reduction are a priority for all city services, and that these principles are implemented and followed.”

Jim Meko: I’m known as someone who brings everyone involved in an issue to the table, and lets them talk to each other and learn each other’s point of view.”

Debra Walker: We need more respect in the political process for the expertise and insights of drug users, who understand these issues like no one else. I am heartened by the emerging political presence of the Drug Users’ Union during this election cycle.”

Elaine Zamora: [I would] seek the input of organizations like yours, and others, such as SF Recovery Theater as well as people I know, friends and co-workers who are drug users and former drug users.”

What steps would you take to improve the lives of the homeless in San Francisco?

Anna Conda: “SRO quality of life must be regulated to ensure clean safe housing with services on site, and landlords who constantly abuse their positions will get three strikes before that building is assumed by the city and leased to a reputable company for management… [we also need more] public toilets, day centers, benches.”

James Keys: My position is to take people living in SROs and move them into apartments…. We must have ‘wrap-around’ services available to ensure that people have the resources available in the SRO to be able to transition to a new apartment.”

Jane Kim: “We must provide… a more transparent process on how to access housing. I support another affordable housing bond measure… I also think we need to provide essential services and resources to the homeless population, such as efficient case management, valued social workers, mental health services, access to clinics etc, to ensure that people are getting the help they need.”

Jim Meko: I believe we need to work on helping our homeless into housing rather than just setting up more shelters.”

Debra Walker: I’ve worked hard for years on campaigns to expand affordable housing, protect rent control, prevent evictions, and improve conditions in SROs, which are often peoples’ last housing before becoming homeless.”

Elaine Zamora: “Discourage the application of the label “homeless” to every unpleasant activity occurring or observed… we need to revamp the shelter system, taking into consideration suggestions of the shelter users, homeless advocates, neighborhood businesses and residents.”

The Harm Reduction Coalition defines “harm reduction” as “a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of strategies from safer use, to managed use to abstinence. Harm reduction strategies meet drug users ‘where they're at,’ addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.” (www.harmreduction.org).

The Department of Public Health has a policy which prioritizes funding organizations that engage in “harm reduction.” What is your position on harm reduction? And what would you do as supervisor of District 6 to ensure that harm reduction-based policies continue to be enacted and actualized?

Anna Conda: Harm reduction is all the things mentioned in this questions plus housing and better access to social and medical services. It should also include help for people coming out of jails…. [We should] create funding for Safe Injection Sites and champion the cause…. Safe Injection Sites are a major part of my campaign.”

James Keys: I not only support Harm Reduction, I teach it…. Until drugs are legalized we must make people feel comfortable enough with their use of drug s to look at the underlying reasons that they use….We must continue to fund services so that health care can be delivered to low-income families with children and poor and homeless people.”

Jane Kim: “I believe that harm reduction strategies are vital for the future of our city. For far too long there has been too much of an emphasis placed on the criminalization of people for their drug usage. Overwhelmingly people of color are disproportionately arrested and convicted for drug usage, and this had lead to a prison system that is unsustainable and rooted in system failures that leads to state budget deficits which adversely affects our city and county.”

Debra Walker: “My position on medical intervention is simply that it must be evidence-based: if it works, it works. And harm reduction clearly is effective…. I believe strongly in the concept of harm reduction, and hope we can work together to explore and expand policies that offer non-judgmental support in the long and difficult process of overcoming and recovering from addiction, and preventing further harm to those who are unable or simply not ready to do so.”

Elaine Zamora: “I often see this definition skewed, often producing more harm than reducing it, especially to those who are on the periphery”

What steps should be taken to continue to reduce drug overdose deaths in San Francisco?

Anna Conda: Safe Injection Sites, more needle exchange hours and funding to… [put] Narcan at local posts around the city where this behavior is most common.”

James Keys: De-criminalize it, legalize it, and then tax it. Then utilize the revenue to create and fund single-payer healthcare in California.”

Jane Kim: “I would continue to fund programs like the DOPE Project that works to educate the community on what to do if someone is overdosing… I also think it is vital for EMAS workers, the police department, and first responders to practice harm reduction when responding to emergencies involving overdose issues. Their first and only responsibility must be to address the safety and health of the person in crisis and nothing else.”

Jim Meko: “Find a public health researcher who will study it (as they did in Vancouver), hold community meetings to find out what neighbors are afraid will happen, have people (hopefully in terms of researchers and neighbors) establish current levels for the feared consequences, set up an oversight committee consisting of neighbors (both businesspeople and residents) to deal with any problems that come up, and continue monitoring after the safe injection site opens.”

Debra Walker: We need to strike a balance between prevention and harm reduction—and education is critical in this regard. We here in San Francisco have one of the highest rates of drug use per capita in the country, so it behooves us to stay engaged on national trends…Whether it ends up in death or hospitalization, drug overdose is a personal and a community tragedy and a mark of societal failure—a warning that we all must do better.”

Elaine Zamora: I support safe injection sites, throughout the city, not just in one or two neighborhoods. I would advocate for training in Narcan administration for City employees, especially those working outside, police, property managers and desk clerks, etc and as part of CPR training”

Would you support a Safe Injection Site in San Francisco?

Anna Conda: Yes

James Keys: yes (however, at a 10/19/10 candidates Forum, Keys said he did not have enough information to decide if District 6 should have a Safe Injection Site)

Jane Kim: yes

Jim Meko: yes

Debra Walker: “a pilot program, yes”

Elaine Zamora: yes (at the 10/19/10 forum, Zamora said she would not like the Safe Injection Site to be in District 6)

Do you support San Francisco Proposition L – the” Sit/Lie law”?

Anna Conda: “absolutely NOT”

James Keys: no

Jane Kim: no

Jim Meko: no

Debra Walker: no

Elaine Zamora: no

Do you support California state Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act?

Anna Conda: “Yes, as long as it allows for smaller grower permits and non taxed medical crops.

James Keys: Hell YES”

Jane Kim: yes

Jim Meko: yes

Debra Walker: yes

Elaine Zamora: yes

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

October Events


  • Tuesday, October 2, Planning Committee Meeting Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St
  • Thursday, October 7, Narcan & Overdoes Prevention Workshop, Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St- Conference Facility-Learn how to identify & prevent overdose, and take home Narcan. If you've already been trained, come back to brush up on your skills & bring a friend!
  • Wednesday, October 13, 9am, Moms Against the War on Drugs Rally!, Sacramento. Mothers helped end alcohol prohibition, now they are going to end drug prohibition too! Let's show our support for ending the War on Drugs! Bus transportation & Lunch provided. We will be home in time for our 5:30 meeting. Please email me (sf.users.union@gmail.com) to RSVP and for details.
  • Wednesday, October 13, 530pm, General Meeting- Community Organizing Training with James Tracy, Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St- Conference Facility. We will have pizza.
  • Tuesday, October 19, 2pm, Planning Committee Meeting, Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St- Conference Facility
  • Monday, October 25, 5:30pm, General Meeting, Drug Policy Alliance Office, 131 10th St- Conference Facility, pizza provided

Fall 2010 Newsletter

San Francisco Drug Users’ Union

Fall 2010 Newsletter

Greetings, Salutations, and Toke!

Congratulations, you have just received the first news letter of the Drug Users’ Union of San Francisco! Welcome one and all… this letter is to help you, da union member, keep updated on our progress and our events that have taken place, or will be taking place, in the upcoming year. It is also to give you, da member, an outlet to express your ideas, concerns, and stories so that the rest of us may benefit from your experiences and knowledge! We want to hear from you! There is a place in the choir for everyone! If you’d like to be part of future newsletters please contact Alexandra (415 990-3827, or sf.users.union@gmail.com).

Well, with that said, let’s get down to biz. So far this summer da Union has met several times and the minutes of the meeting are included to keep everyone up-to-date.

For the meeting on July 14 we give special thanks to Melissa Struzzo, who took the time to be our special guest speaker. Melissa was working for the San Francisco Department of Public Health to assess their Harm Reduction Policy, and was collecting stories from people who use the health services in SF. At this meeting we also chose a general theme for our first campaign: to decrease the stigma drug users face using services funded by the city.

Our July 20 meeting was spent organizing the campaign in better detail. We decided to focus on decreasing the stigma that drug users face at the San Francisco General Emergency Room.

The July 25 meeting had 14 members there. And our special thanks go to Caycee who was the guest speaker from the UFO study. We also discussed the research we need to do before beginning our campaign.

August started with a Planning committee meeting on the 3rd. We wrote a questionnaire for the District 6 Supervisor candidates on issues surrounding drug use in the Tenderloin and SOMA. We will compile their answers into a Drug User Voter’s Guide for District 6. Look out for it in late October!

On August 10, we had a screening of the movie, “Fix,” the story of VANDU, the drug users’ union in Vancouver, Canada, how it got started and why. More than 40 people showed up for the viewing, or at least for the pizza, and many showed great interest in the topics discussed! Thanks to all who attended and made this event a success!

August 11 we met for a General Meeting, which is now being held at the Drug Police Alliance Office at 131 10th st. Seems only appropriate, don’t you think? Again, the time was spent organizing the campaign goals and assigning tasks to the members.

August 14 da Union held our first “Nice People Take Drugs” rally at Dolores Park. Several of our members attended this. We handed out stickers, t-shirts and wrist-bands that said “Nice People Take Drugs,” as well as Drug Users’ Union flyers, and the gang ate great quantities of cookies—no, not that kind! We made a good impression on the public and added new members to our roster. Even a representative of the Park Rangers arrived to check us out. Fortunately, we managed to keep Alexandra sufficiently restrained from challenging the poor guy to a fight to the death and thereby sending us all to jail. She definitely made us proud! U go GIRL!!!

Now, August 19th was the “Publication Writing Party” for Da Union’s ’zine called “Drug Resistance.” This project is being put together by Isaac, the peer organizer for da Union. Discussions centered around the type of publication we want and the format to be used. Tentatively, it was decided to publish four times a year, the first to be in December of this year. We are looking for people who have experience in publishing, lay-out, photography, art graphics, writing, even cartoonists! So, step up and be heard! Contact Isaac at blogging.on.drugs@gmail.com.

Now, for some not so good news… at the ‘zine party on the 23rd, a member of the group walked off with a tape recorder that was purchased by da Union to record some of our meetings. This event has caused great distress among the honest members of da Union. Any suggestions on what should be done for such transgressions? Da Union turned down my suggestion of human sacrifice, but I am sure someone else has a good suggestion. No more pizza for this person!!!

On August 23 we had a “Community Organizing Training” given by James Tracy, it was part one of a series. The purpose of these trainings is to give da Union and its members the tools to create change in their communities and to be more active members of da Union. James talked with us about the differences between organizing and providing services. Thanks James!

On September 8, we had another General Meeting, where we continued to discuss community organizing, and also filled some of the new members in on the other Drug Users’ Unions around the world (VANDU in Vancouver, VOCAL in New York City, Junkiebonden in the Neatherlands etc).

At our Planning Committee Meetings in September, we reported back from some of the Focus Groups and research we have been doing on our campaign, and we heard a lot of interesting stories on how drug users are treated at the SFGH Emergency Room. Stay tuned to hear more!

Ok… well that’s the best information I got for you right now! So I guess the time has come for the special Union salute of the month… Now let us raise our bongs in special recognition of organizer Alexandra, whose leadership and fighting skills have brought pride and fear to the Drug Users’ Union! This hit is Mjust in her memory! Salute!

- Written by Gary West, September 2010 (with some editorial Help by Alexandra Goldman)

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Updates & Announcements: September 1-16th, 2010

  • SF Drug Users' Union General Meeting:  September 8th, 2010. Time: 5:30 p.m.  Location: Drug Policy Alliance 131 Tenth Street @ Howard
  • Planning Committee Meeting: September 14th, 2010. Time: 5:30 p.m.  Location: Drug Policy Alliance 131 Tenth Street @ Howard
  • 'Zine Production Pizza Party: September 16th, 2010 Time: 5:30 p.m.  Location: Drug Policy Alliance 131 Tenth Street @ Howard.  Help us write our new ‘Zine Drug Resistance
  • STAYED TUNED because there’s a lot more in the second part of September!!!


Monday, August 23, 2010

Drug Resistance zine meeting

Drug Resistance update: San Francisco Drug Users' Union next 'zine meeting: - ≈ Thursday August 26, 131 10th @ Howard St at 5:30pm! We are looking for writers, photographers, artists and anyone with a good story to tell! Join us for pizza and creativity.

Monday, August 2, 2010

August Events

August is shaping up to be a fun and productive month for the Drug Users' Union.

Here is what we have planned:





  • Planning Committee -Tuesday, Aug 3, 2pm. Drug Policy Alliance- 131 10th St (members only)
  • Film Screening: “FIX”- Tuesday, Aug 10, 6pm. AIDS Foundation, 995 Market St 2nd floor, room 2b. The story of Vancouver’s struggle to open Canada’s first Safe Injection Site.
  • General Meeting -Wednesday, Aug 11, 5:30pm. Drug Policy Alliance Office- 131 10th St
  • Nice People Take Drugs- Saturday, Aug 14: 12-3pm. Dolores Park, the Mission. Hang out in the park, eat some cookies, and spread the message-“Nice People Take Drugs!” with signs and conversation.
  • Planning Committee - Tuesday, Aug 17, 2pm. Drug Policy Alliance- 131 10th St (members only)
  • ‘Zine writing party!- Thursday, Aug 19,5:30pm. Drug Policy Alliance office, 131 10th St. Enjoy some pizza and write something for our new ‘zine- “Drug Resistance”!
  • General Meeting- Community Organizing Training -Monday, Aug 23: 5:30pm Drug Policy Alliance Office- 131 10th St
The movie, day in the park, and 'zine writing party will be a lot of fun and are great opportunities for new members to get involved!

Monday, July 26, 2010

We have our first campaign!!

The Drug Users' Union has chosen our first campaign!

We decided last month that we wanted to work on decreasing the stigma that Drug Users face with city-funded service providers. We decided last week to narrow our focus and begin by working with the stigma and discrimination that Drug Users face at SF General's Emergency Room!

This is an issue that we have heard a lot about since we began holding focus groups for drug users back in January of this year. Our members have reported that a lot of drug users will not go to the Emergency Room until they are extremely sick or injured due to the stigma they face by the staff. We hope we can set up a collaborative training or protocol process to ensure that drug users will be treated with dignity when they have to go to the Emergency Room.

We are beginning our campaign planning process today (at 5:30pm at 131 10th Street). We will keep you posted as we begin this important and exciting campaign.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Special meeting! July 20!

We had a great meeting yesterday and worked on narrowing down which issue we want to tackle first. Our fantastic conversations went a bit longer than we anticipated, so we are having a special meeting next Tuesday to finish up.

We will be voting on which issue to work on first... so please come if you have opinions on this decision!

Don't worry if you couldn't make it last night, you should still come and weigh in on Tuesday!

Special Meeting!
Tuesday, July 20
2pm
Drug Policy Alliance Office
131 10th St (between Mission & Howard)

Friday, July 9, 2010

Campaign Planning Meeting


Where: Drug Policy Alliance Office.
131 Tenth Street (between Mission and Howard)
When: Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
Conflicts with dinner?  Don't worry. We've got you covered.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Monday, May 31, 2010

June Meetings!

This is going to be an exciting month for the Drug Users' Union... we are choosing our first campaign!
  • Planning Committee: TOMORROW, June 1, 2pm, Celtic Coffee Company (142 McAllister)-- we have a lot to prepare for this month, this will be an important meeting.
  • General Meeting: Wednesday, June 9, 5:30pm, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (165 Capp St)-- we will be having a phone conversation with some of the folks from VANDU, Vancouver's Drug Users' Union, to ask them questions about drug user organizing & their successes
  • Current Events Committee: Tuesday, June 15, 2pm, Celtic Coffee Company (142 McAllister)
  • Big Important General Meeting- Choosing a Campaign!: June 21, 5:30pm, Central City SRO Collaborative (48 Turk)

Monday, May 17, 2010

May's Meetings

  • Current Events Committee: Tuesday, May 18, 2pm, TL Health (191 Golden Gate upstairs)
  • Hep C Rally: Wednesday, May 19, 12pm, City Hall. Join the Mayor's Hep C taskforce on May 19, International Hepatitis Day, to raise awareness of Hep C which disproportionately impacts IV drug users
  • Alliance for Saving Lives (Safe Injection Site Mtg): Wednesday, May 19, 3pm, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center (165 Capp St)
  • General Meeting: Monday, May 24, 5:30pm, TL Self Help Center (290 Turk)
Hope to see you there!

Red Eye: Drug Users Union?

SF Drug User's Union in the media

New Union In Town

Many blogs, discussion groups and websites have repeated some of the above articles.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Welcome Message

Welcome to the San Francisco Drug Users' Union Blog and Web Pages.  Here you can keep up with the latest developments in the fast paced world of drug user activism. Contirbute blog posts and tell your friends about us.