1 | Luciano Colonna

December 17th, 2006 at 7:22 pm

2nd National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis: Science & Response

Draft Agenda Available For Viewing At methconference.org

Feb.. 1 – Feb.. 3, 2007 ~ Salt Lake City Center Hilton, UT

Meeting Meth in the Middle

August, 2005

By Allan Clear and Luciano Colonna
Excerpted from The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource

A field of dreams was built and the people came. The precursor to the First National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV, and Hepatitis was the perplexing problem of a drug that has been harrying the hinterland for the past decade or longer. Our initial goal was to draw maybe 300 people, but that was a gross underestimation of how this event was desperately needed. When we announced the conference, everyone wanted in, including the Federal government: Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Utah Senator Orrin Hatch supplied a letter of support for the event that was instrumental in drawing in local health departments, many of which sent attendees and speakers and also lent their imprimatur to the conference.

This conference was intended to be an introduction to the four-pillar approach of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and law enforcement for those who had not seen it before. In looking at the spectrum of response to methamphetamine use, it was hoped that the different players could learn from each other, drawing upon what was effective or promising and applying it to their work.
The beauty of the conference was that it allowed the confluence of so many different tributaries of dealing with methamphetamine use.

For some people this was their first drug-oriented meeting and for others it was the first time they had heard drugs discussed as a serious health issue. It brought together people from the urban, the Midwest, and the rural communities in between, as workers from large cities and small towns compared their issues. Treatment providers were listening to law enforcement and policy makers. Members of Crystal Meth Anonymous were arguing with harm reductionists from Australia over messages about personal responsibility. Over 150 Native Americans attended the conference making it one of the largest meetings outside of a Native gathering.

Many members of faith based organizations were in attendance and in many ways effectively represented Middle America.For many, this was probably their first exposure to behaviors that challenged their comfort level. But maybe that is underestimating Utah’s conservative roots. The exhibit hall brought together the Drug Policy Alliance, Hazelden, and Utah’s Division of Substance Abuse Services. In the end, over 900 people attended the Salt Lake City conference. Now the challenge is how to synthesize what occurred and how to keep all of the players engaged and productive until we meet again in 2007.

Today

Which brings us to the 2nd National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis: Science and Response 2007. In Salt Lake City from February 1 –3, this event is set to surpass the 2005 conference in terms of overall quality and choice. An attendee can expect over 150 speakers, 100 presentations, workshops and panels – and over 1000 attendees from the United States and abroad. We believe that it is the presence of those 1000 women and men in Salt Lake City during early February that will make the 2nd National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis one of the most important public health meetings of the year. Please visit http://www.methconference.orgto view the conference agenda, for information on accommodations, or to register on-line. In addition, please call 801-355-0234 ext. 6 to speak with our conference coordinator if you have any questions, special needs, or for information on skiing, snow boarding and other winter activities.

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About HRP
The Harm Reduction Project works for the enhancement of services to marginalized populations.

HARM REDUCTION PROJECT | SALT LAKE CITY | TEL (801) 355.0234
FAX (801) 355.0291 | 235 West 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
HARM REDUCTION PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | TEL (202) 246-6391
FAX (202) 271.3363 | 3324 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010
HARM REDUCTION PROJECT | DENVER | TEL (303) 572-7800
FAX (303) 572.7800 | 775 Lipan Street, Denver, Colorado 80204
Please visit us at http://www.harmredux.org & http://www.methconference.org more information
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Luciano Colonna
Executive Director
Harm Reduction Project
Denver / Salt Lake City / Washington, DC
t 801.355.0234 f 801.355.0291