Page 24 - WHACK35

Peer

Distribution

I G E T B Y W I T H A L I T T L E H E L P F R O M M Y F R I E N D S . . .
T HE O NLY W AY T O S A F E LY S HAR E NE E D L E S

Did you know that in (a) if the person is, or is engaged For years, HRVic has been involves a four day training
Victoria it is technically or employed by, a pharmacist lobbying DHHS, without program to start, if you are
illegal to give your mate a and the sale or supply is made in success, to change this policy successfully recruited into
needle/syringe unless you the course of the lawful practice and amend this law. the program in your area,
hold an NSP (Needle / Sy- of a pharmacist; or Fortunately, we have found at the end of the training,
ringe Program) Outreach (b) if the sale or supply is by a a loophole in the law which we get you to complete an
Worker Card? specified person or organisation the Health Department application form to become
To get one of these cards or specified class of persons or supports. And so the Peer an authorised NSP Outreach
you need to be a part of organisations in specified Networker Program (PNP) Worker, and send it to
an authorised needle and circumstances as authorised by was born. DHHS who issue you with
syringe program (NSP) and Order in Council published in an authorised person NSP ID
apply to the Department of the Government Gazette. card. You are then protected
Health and Human under the law and you can
Services (DHHS). If you T H I S L AW D O E S N ’ T legally give your mates sterile
don’t, and you give out MAK E ANY S E N S E ! injecting equipment for up
needles and syringes, you can to 1 year (all ID cards expire
be prosecuted for aiding and We all know we share sterile after 12 months).
abetting the administration needles/syringes with our The state-wide network of
of a prohibited substance. mates if we’ve got them. PNP sites is growing fast
The Poisons and Controlled In fact, NSPs encourage their and HRVic is always on the
Substances Act 1981 states: clients to take extra injecting look-out for suitable can-
80 Aiding and abetting etc. equipment so they can look didates for the role of Peer
(5) A person who sells or after their mates as well as This successful program Networker. After training,
supplies a hypodermic themselves. It stops the simply supports people to you commit to attending one
needle or a syringe is not continued transmission of do what they are already meeting per month, to hand
guilty of an offence under Hep C, HIV, Hep B etc. doing – that is, to distribute in your stat sheets which
this section by reason only It’s a no-brainer! sterile injecting equipment to record how much equipment
of that sale or supply — their friends and associates. It you have distributed that

24 W H A C K P. I E D I T I O N : S P R I N G 2 0 16

WHACK35_LYOT.indd 24 11-Oct-16 4:25:21 PM