Engaging young people who use

drugs in developing youth friendly harm reduction programs

Yamina Sara Chekroun US International Working Group

Representative, Youth RISE

International AIDS Conference – July 22nd 2012

TRIP! was founded in 1995,

by partiers,

for partiers!

What do we do?

Bag and Booth Harm Reduction Outreach

Festivals Advocacy Blogging & Social

Media Creation of New

Literature Multimedia Design Volunteer Trainings &

Workshops Community-Based

Research

Who We Serve

The majority of youth respondents (46.2%) are under 19, with triple the rates of drug use of general youth population

44% of TRIP! respondents identified as LGBTQ (33% bi-sexual, 8.8% gay and 3% identifying as transgendered)

9% of TRIP! respondents identifying as homeless, under housed or transient

71.3% identified their use as casual/non-problematic

70% first trying drugs between ages 12-16, with the average age being 13

43% of survey respondents indicated they experience negative health effects from their drug use

Why is TRIP! important?

Research shows that, next to the internet, TRIP! is the most trusted source of information on drugs, sex and high-risk activities; while schools, media and family come in last!

Outcomes for Volunteers

Better knowledge about the safer drug use (98%)

Better knowledge about safer sex (80%)

Access to Safer Use Kits(43%)

Building a sense of community – caring for each other (78%)

Referrals to other supports and services (55%)

Work experience and connections to employment possibilities (35%)

Emerging Challenges

47% of TRIP! Youth surveyed reported having unprotected sex, with 24% reporting having sex with multiple partners

21% of youth drug users reported sharing straws

9% identified as injection drug users , with 3% saying that they planned to try it in the near future

Our Approach

We can never stop the use of drugs, but we CAN keep people safe

Drug use is a health issue, not a legal one

Non-judgmental education approach based on facts, not opinions/morals

Providing information (for and by youth drug users) so that users can make their own informed choices

Conclusions

Harm reduction peer education is an effective strategy for preventing harms related to drug use

By engaging youth in a innovate harm reduction program such as the TRIP! Project, we allow them to have conversations about HIV prevention, safer sex while reducing the harms associated with drugs.

It is imperative that governments & policy makers work to support harm reduction programs that reach young people who use drugs, not just abstinence campaigns that too often ignore the reality that youth face today.

Keep in touch!

• www.tripproject.ca•Purerave.com - tripproject•Facebook.com/tripproject•Twitter.com/tripproject•Email us at info@tripproject.ca