Addressing health inequities for same sex attracted women in New South Wales, who use drugs (APSAD).

Abstract

ACON’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Program provides a Needle Syringe Program, peer-based harm reduction programs, drug education targeted at members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community, and counselling services. The Lesbian Health Project works with lesbians and other same-sex attracted (SSA) women to improve their health and wellbeing through health promotion, peer education and community development programs as well as providing capacity development for mainstream service providers. In Australia the GLBT community has markedly higher rates of drug use than the general population. Efforts to address lesbian health needs in particular are hampered by lack of research, poor understanding of the issues by potential funding bodies, and the lack of a single defining health issue (such as HIV among gay men) around which to focus advocacy efforts. Equally problematic is the absence of consideration given to lesbians and SSA women in the vast majority of Australian national and state health policies. A web based campaign called Word of Mouth, which will be released in early December, seeks to engage with networks of SSA women who use drugs but may not access ACON’s services. This campaign uses interactive and informative youtube videos and a facebook page to connect SSAW with each other to share information, while also promoting relevant support services and reducing stigma around help-seeking. The Word of Mouthcampaign deals with intersections of drug use, sex and sexuality. Pleasure is acknowledged as a motivating factor in drug use. This approach may be compelling and appealing to people who do not relate to discussions about drug-related harms.