“I was so run down all the time, drugs were the only way to give me energy and improve my mood”

Peer expert Oat gets us started on the basics to introduce a UN-exclusive series of resources and articles on pill testing.

The step-by-step guide for people who want to start vaping but don’t know how.

Siobhan was stunned into silence by her patronising doctor. While that time she made a strategic decision not to confront him, now she demands health workers show her the respect that she deserves.

Wayne was finding stigma a barrier to even getting health complaints diagnosed, let alone treated. That's why, finding a professional, non-stigmatising doctor was like “a breath of fresh air”.

Molly talks about how some health workers made her unwilling to be open about recreational drug use. And the slightly unorthodox way some ER workers put her at ease.

Dr Lachlan McPhail, psychiatrist with the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, has expertise in helping people who want to reduce or stop their drug use to manage cravings and triggers. Here’s his top tips.

Gail Gray is a proud First Nation Wiradjuri Woman who grew up on Gadigal land in Sydney. Gail spent over 15 years in and out of NSW jails. She has now spent 15 years using her lived experience to help women in the justice system. Gail talked to NUAA about how her choices led her to the Community Restorative Centre (CRC) as a caseworker with the Miranda Project.

Parenting is tricky. Scott is a dad who uses drugs. He tells us about the ups and downs of fatherhood, including his experience giving harm reduction advice to his son.

People from overseas may face particular challenges seeking health care such as hepatitis C assessment, treatment and care.

For Aboriginal people in Australia, police harassment is a daily fact of life. For Aboriginal people who use drugs, this is doubly so.

What is leadership and how can we — people who use or have used drugs — exercise it?

Guest editorial by Mary Ellen Harrod, NUAA CEO

Peer Worker Maureen Steele has been an active and influential peer worker for some 30 years. She has been inducted in the NUAA Hall of Fame for her tireless and outstanding commitment to our community.

“Peer Worker” is an emerging role in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) space in NSW. Not only has research shown how valuable peer education and support is, services using peer workers see the difference every day as more consumers come through their doors to have more respectful and relevant interactions.

Annie Madden is a global drug user activist with living experience of injecting & illicit drug use, hep C and opioid treatment.

Annie Madden is a global drug user activist with living experience of injecting & illicit drug use, hep C and opioid treatment.

Three exceptional Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from Drug User Organisations (DUOs) around Australia give us their take on peer leadership.

SafeScript is a ‘real-time’ system that allows prescribers and dispensers to access your medication history while you wait. What does this new system mean for you?

We know you’ve been invited to some excellent parties lately!

But do you still remember how to have a good time and stay safe?

Natasha’s story: Jail, the ‘register’, rehab and life without harm reduction.