July 2005

Conference tackles illegal drug use topics

Hundreds of Australian health workers took part in the two-day Melbourne Association of Needle and Syringe Programs (Anex) Harm Reduction Conference, exploring topics connected to drugs and illicit drug use in the community.

Speakers and delegates from every state and territory discussed drugs in the workplace, ethics, harm reduction and primary health care links, improved access to health services for drug users, research, data collection techniques and more.

Anex Chief Executive Officer John Ryan said the conference was a world-class event that attracted relevant, thought-provoking and insightful speakers.

Mr Ryan said needle and syringe services were regularly visited by injecting drug users and had enormous potential for data collection and health promotion.

‘Because of this, capturing data from services is an extremely important tool.

Department of Human Services Drugs and Policy Branch Project Officer Alison Lowe described a new electronic data collection service for Victorian needle and syringe programs.

The Department of Human Services sponsored the conference.

• For more information on Anex visit www.anex.org.au.