Mission Harm Reduction
Products:
» alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and other hallucinogens, amphetamines, heroin, anaesthetic substances (GHB, ketamine).
Conditions:
» Hepatitis C, HIV, psychiatric collapses, anxiety crises, bad trips, dependency, various somatic problems, headaches, vomiting, malaise.
Most common risks:
» Hepatitis C transmission, HIV, psychiatric collapse, dehydration, hyperthermia/hypothermia, hypoglycemia.
Beneficiaries:
» 29,100
Interventions:
» 137 missions
Volunteers:
» 223
Funding:
» Department of Health, Regional public health groups, Regional councils, INTERREG (EU)
Partners:
» Techno Plus, Aides, L’Orange Bleue, ASUD, Tipi, Act Up, l’Acothé, Espace Indépendance, Sida Paroles, Association Liberté, Bizia, La Fratrie, ANPREF, AFR, Harm Reduction collective.
Because of the legislation, the restrictions and considerable supervision of legal technivals, there has been a levelling off in the number of participants in this type of event. A younger and less informed population, however, continues to be attracted to the techno scene. We see growing poly-drug use and the appearance of new products. Testing, or RPP (presumptive identification of products) is still forbidden (Decree of 14 April 2005) and this limits the prevention approach.
Harm reduction linked to psycho-active drug use
» 6 RAVE PROGRAMMES: Bayonne, Mediterranean (project based in Marseille and Nice), Montpellier, Nantes, Paris and Toulouse
» 1 NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (in partnership with Aides): Angoulême
» 1 XBT/DRUG ANALYSIS PROJECT.
Activities:
Following the official recognition of the needle exchange programmes as medico-social services (CAARUD) in 2006, MdM has transferred the programmes in Bordeaux, Marseille and Paris to independent associations. A harm reduction collective brings MdM together with these sister organisations. Since 1997, MdM has been running prevention and harm reduction activities at techno festivals. The changes in the context have driven us to modify our activities, and we now provide services at:
• free parties and in cross-border clubs;
• squats, during parties but also, more importantly, on an everyday basis;
• Technivals, where there are four areas of activity:
- welcome (prevention table, provision of prevention equipment such as injection kits, roll-your-straw…);
- healthcare (medical and nursing care);
- reassurance (supervised chillout zones, welcome area and place for receiving and diagnosing collapses);
- drug analysis with thin layer chromatography – the only practice the law permits.
Outlook:
• Adapting our working methods to the needs (information on risks linked to injection).
• Continuing our lobbying for RRP to be permitted and recognised as a useful tool.
• For squats: ensuring the long term sustainability and strengthening the current plan, particularly in terms of medico-psycho-social sessions.
Types of work:
• All the projects provide first aid, information and drug analysis as part of a harm reduction approach.
• We work in places where young people gather: free parties, technivals, discos, clubs, squats...
• In 2007, 50 samples (total of all drugs) were collected, documented and analysed by the XBT project.
• Distribution of sterile injecting equipment and collection of used equipment.
August 2008