> Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:07:30 -0600 (CST)
> From: "Meghan Ralston, DPA"
> <webmaster@...>
> Subject: Do You Believe in My Work?
>
> Dear Supporter,
>
> I was a drug user. My friends, musicians and artists
> in southern California, were drug users. So I saw
> firsthand what happens when people who use drugs are
> denied access to health care and drug education. Two
> talented, creative people I knew died.
>
> At that time, there was no voice out there
> advocating for us to have basic harm reduction
> services--services that would have saved the lives
> of my friends. I feel passionately about changing
> that, which is why I work as DPA's harm reduction
> coordinator in Los Angeles, implementing a program
> to provide access to clean syringes in pharmacies,
> which prevents diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
> C and saves us all money in health care costs.
>
> When you've lived this experience, you can't ignore
> it. And that's why I love DPA. We're a sane,
> rational voice working against the de-humanization
> of drug users and fighting the prejudice systemic to
> the war on drugs. I believe educating people about
> harm reduction is one of the first steps in creating
> change, because until we break down stereotypes and
> stigmas about people who use drugs, we can't fully
> embrace a public health response to drug use.
>
> This is the most meaningful work I've ever done, and
> I feel blessed that I get to do it. I care so much
> about the value of the life of a person who uses
> drugs because I walk around every day with the
> ghosts of people I knew and loved.
>
> But in order to keep doing what I do, I need your
> help. I have so many ideas--I want to build
> partnerships with organizations and people who can
> bring harm reduction messages back to their own
> communities. I want to do an ad campaign to raise
> awareness of the fact that a person can be both an
> injection drug user and a contributing member of
> society. I want to bring our message to people who
> don't already agree with us.
>
> But the only way I can do those things is with the
> financial support of people who believe in what I
> do. As you're deciding on your year-end
> contributions, please think about my work and make a
> donation to DPA:
>
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=xfH6QRRXmF86P-uu1KeMNg..
>
> Thank you,
>
> Meghan Ralston
> Harm Reduction Coordinator
> Drug Policy Alliance Los Angeles
>
>
> To Contact or Make a Donation by Mail to the Drug
> Policy Alliance
>
> Drug Policy Alliance
> 70 West 36th Street, 16th Floor
> New York, NY 10018
>
> Get a PDF copy of the Donation Form.
> http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=kdkLWlEpsMDzBZmLLWxJvw..



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