Levamicoke.info Anything but the real thing… Chantel Marshall Toronto Public Health The Works Lisa Campbell Salazar TRIP! Project, Central Toronto Community Health Centres Walter Cavalieri Canadian Harm Reduction Network
Levamicoke.info
Dec 05, 2014
The Levamicoke campaign was initiated in late 2009 by members of Toronto’s Research Group on Drug Use. Our goal is to raise awareness about recent reports of Levamisole-laced cocaine and crack. The reason that we’re doing this is that Levamisole is turning up everywhere. It’s in the majority of cocaine and crack on the global market. It has serious health effects that are surfacing everywhere that cocaine and crack are being used. It may not be reported because it’s not a reportable illness, but this quietness is not a conspiracy, it’s just a fact of life.
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Levamicoke.infoAnything but the real thing…
Chantel Marshall
Toronto Public Health
The Works
Lisa Campbell Salazar
TRIP! Project, Central Toronto Community Health Centres
Walter Cavalieri
Canadian Harm Reduction Network
Introduction
WTF is Levamisole?!
WTF is Levamisole?!
WTF is Levamisole?!
•SAMHSA reported 80% of crack cocaine users testing positive in 2009 in Seattle•International data is scarce, but increasing
US Prevalence• DEA stats show sharp increase
Global Reports
• Barcelona Energy Control
Alberta, Canada
British Columbia, Canada
Symptom onset dates BC cases identified Jan 2008-September 2010; n=40
British Columbia, Canada
Residence of cases of agranulocytosis associated with cocaine Jan 2008-September 2010 (n=40)
Goals of Campaign• Create an integrated media health campaign
to educate people who use drugs, the general public, public health and the medical community about the prevalence risks of Levamisole-laced cocaine, including crack
• Empower drug users to be aware of adulterants and advocate for appropriate health services
• Create viral buzz around Levamisole to instigate community-based response both locally and globally
Target Groups
• Party drug users
• Gay men in clubs and baths
• People using crack
• Medical Community
Different Strokes for Different Folks
• Party drug users
• Gay men in clubs and baths
• People using crack
• Medical Community
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Different Strokes for Different Folks
• Party drug users
• Gay men in clubs and baths
• People using crack
• Medical Community
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Campaign Buzz
• Officially launched November 7th 2010• Email blast sent to 32,000 people including
queer, drug user, harm reduction listserves• Website hits increased by almost 3,000% in a
week’s time• Media requests from CBC, CTV, Toronto Star
and outlets in the Maritimes• Campaign forwarded internationally by groups
in New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Zambia, France, Germany, etc.
Levamicoke.info Global Reach
Results by end of first week of campaign:
Levamicoke.info Analytics
Facebook Demographics
Random Buzz
Challenges
•Money•Resources•Time•Surveillance•Bureaucracy
Ideas & Questions Welcome!
Email us at [email protected] for more information and how you can join the movement!