What is leadership and how can we — people who use or have used drugs — exercise it?

Guest editorial by Mary Ellen Harrod, NUAA CEO

Peer Worker Maureen Steele has been an active and influential peer worker for some 30 years. She has been inducted in the NUAA Hall of Fame for her tireless and outstanding commitment to our community.

“Peer Worker” is an emerging role in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) space in NSW. Not only has research shown how valuable peer education and support is, services using peer workers see the difference every day as more consumers come through their doors to have more respectful and relevant interactions.

Annie Madden is a global drug user activist with living experience of injecting & illicit drug use, hep C and opioid treatment.

Annie Madden is a global drug user activist with living experience of injecting & illicit drug use, hep C and opioid treatment.

Three exceptional Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from Drug User Organisations (DUOs) around Australia give us their take on peer leadership.

“New drugs, old drugs — it’s still rock & roll” ♥ There are more things that bind us than separate us

Jude Byrne was a hero and inspiration to the community of people who inject drugs all around the world

Robert Stirling is the Deputy CEO of NADA (Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies). He works to make sure every person who uses drugs feels valued and gets quality treatment.

“I got more involved with NUAA, going to their Consumer Academy courses. I trusted NUAA because I knew they were peers. I wanted to become involved in the rights of people who use drugs. I like the idea of harm reduction. It’s more “me” than abstinence.”

DanceWize NSW co-ordinator Georgina Bell, who has seen first-hand the difference that harm reduction services make on the ground at festivals, raves and bush doofs.

Uh oh – you’ve been caught with drugs in your possession at a festival in NSW. What happens next depends on a few things…

“Out the back they had the strip search tents set up, and a female cop waiting for me in one. She told me I had to take all my clothes off, and then said she needed me to squat and cough.”

Users News sat down with Phill, one of the individuals behind Origins of Entropy, to discuss the role that festival organisers have in reducing harm at their events

NUAA staff share their top tips for being a great Peer Worker.

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