Part of what the HepC group does is attend lots of meetings- meetings for education, meetings for advocacy, meetings for integrating various programs/departments. Anyways, I recently went to a meeting of a subcommittee for the hepatitis coalition where they were strategizing their next lobbying campaign. I almost felt like I was back in college, except that the group's politics differed a little. Speaking of which, I ended up sitting next to a pharmaceutical rep who went on about how in an attempt to court the conservative right, he could speak to his old ASU frat buddies (who are all legislators, of course). I felt dirty just being in the same room as him. Oh, and did I mention that they were saying things like that they should distance themselves from prisoners and addicts since those would tarnish their image, and that if they were to get a spokesperson that it should be a white guy so that the public could more easily identify..so, so dirty.

To counter that meeting, I today read a little booklet put out by the HRC. Not the Human Rights Coalition HRC, but the Harm Reduction Coalition HRC. It was basically a how-to booklet on shooting up. Written by (well educated) users, for (well educated) users, it was an illustrated five chapter summary on highlighting the basics on how to minimize the dangers of intravenous drug use. It was really interesting. I can't wait until I get to go to the needle exchange program. I just can't believe that I have to go all the way down to Tucson to find one.