We are also very excited to announce our keynote speakers for the conference,

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and the Social Inclusion Commissioner for Tasmania, Professor David Adams.

To view the preliminary program, submit an abstract or to register for the conference online, visit the conference website.

Christine Murphy

Conference Manager

Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Council

Email: conference@atdc.org.au

Conference enquiries: (03) 6224 7780

Mobile: 0423 351 902

Tourists who have gotten themselves tattooed or pierced whilst in Bali are being warned to seek medical advice after a Western Australian man reportedly contracted HIV during a recent holiday trip.

Australian health officials are urging travelers to be careful about getting tattoos or piercings in developing countries as the regulations and codes of practice don't necessarily comply with Australia's. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that to avoid infections from HIV and viral hepatitis, individuals should not share needles for tattoos, body piercings, or other injections.

The WA Health notified Commonwealth authorities last week after the WA resident undertook a blood test when he returned from Indonesia. The victim's age and sex and details of where the tattoo was obtained in Bali have not been released.

To read this full article CLICK HERE

New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology will help physicians better choose seizure drugs for people on HIV/AIDS medication, avoiding deadly drug interactions and preventing critical anti-HIV drugs from becoming less effective, possibly leading to a more virulent strain of the disease.

Michigan State University's Gretchen Birbeck -- who spends several months each year in the sub-Sahara African nation of Zambia researching epilepsy, HIV /AIDS and cerebral malaria -- is the lead author of the medical guideline, which was co-developed with the World Health Organization through the International League Against Epilepsy.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 33 million people worldwide were living with HIV in 2009. Seizure disorders are common among people with HIV,

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While discrimination against people with HIV is certainly nothing new, the level of harassment suffered by James White of Detroit, Michigan brings back memories of the darkest days of the initial outbreak.

Abetted by President Reagan’s now infamous silence and complete inaction, ill-informed rumors about HIV spread as quickly as the disease itself. Millions of lost lives and decades later, we’re still dealing with the fallout from that total failure in leadership.

James White was diagnosed with HIV, which is hard enough to deal with but the response of his co-workers must have been devastating. Upon learning of his condition, White was banned from touching doorknobs at his workplace, Great Expressions Dental Centers.

In addition, his co-workers followed him around with a bottle of Lysol as if he were oozing germs. Finally, his schedule was constantly rearranged, sometimes without his knowledge and White was repeatedly disciplined for his “unexcused abscences.”

To read this full article CLICK HERE

The School of Psychology (University of Adelaide) and the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Royal Adelaide Hospital) have commenced a research study exploring the desire for psychological support in people living with chronic hepatitis C.

The psychological burden of chronic hepatitis C is considerable and particularly evident in high rates of depression and anxiety in those suffering from this disease. This psychiatric morbidity diminishes quality of life, aggravates perceived physical symptomatology and reduces rates of antiviral treatment commencement, adherence and clearance.

The survey takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete and includes sections on demographic information, desire for psychological support, history of psychological support, disease and treatment characteristics, psychological symptomatology and access to social support.

To access this survey CLICK HERE

This was a life or death decision, and the cry of 'blood on their hands' is appropriate, for both the Republicans who insisted on this and the Democrats who let it happen.

Most Tuesday evenings, I stand in an alley behind the grocery store with a Buddhist monk and a few other volunteers, handing sterile syringes to people as they drop their old syringes into the bright red biohazard bucket. I’ve been doing this for fifteen years, almost as long as Congress insisted that federal taxpayer dollars couldn’t be used to purchase the syringes we exchange.

Two years ago, determined policy advocates convinced the Democratic leadership that they had the votes to undo this costly decision. People across the country met with their representatives, having sometimes difficult conversations, educating them about the research, the weight of the evidence, and the impact of HIV and hepatitis in their communities.

And science carried the day, with Congress voting to lift the ban. Since then, federal funding has been used to create new programs and expand existing ones, reaching communities that never had sterile syringe access. It’s gone to substance misuse treatment programs and health clinics and HIV organizations, giving people who inject drugs better tools to protect their health.

Now that all comes to an end, as Congress just voted to reinstate the absurd ban on federal funding for syringe access programs. I hope that those programs will find ways to raise the funds to keep going.

To read this full article CLICK HERE

Article from The Mercury - 30 November 2011

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The premier wrote in The Age that the conscience vote would allow MPs to decide “according to their own values and beliefs” on an issue which has divided her party. Ms Gillard is on the record as opposed to marriage equality and sources said this did not mean she has changed her view.

In the past, she has said Labor MPs will not be allowed a conscience vote on the issue if it is debated in parliament. The party will debate the issue at its upcoming December conference.

Gillard wrote: “My position flows from my strong conviction that the institution of marriage has come to have a particular meaning and standing in our culture and nation and that should continue unchanged.”

To read this full article CLICK HERE