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Earlier in the session Howard Lotsof of the
Dora Weiner Foundation had put forward his
argument supporting the use of ibogaine in
treating opioid and other addictions (see the
Sunday/Monday edition of
Daily Update
,
page 7)
Despite many advocates for its use and a
growing underground treatment network,
ibogaine remains an unregulated drug. ‘There
was an era when medications were not
regulated and that was not a happy era,’ Dr
Wodak told delegates, citing the Thalidomide
tragedy of the 1960s which had led to a
dramatic shake up of the system. ‘Regulation
is particularly important for vulnerable popula-
tions, and injecting drug users definitely fall
into that category,’ he said. ‘All new drugs are
considered to be ineffective and unsafe until
4 –
Daily Update
– DAY FOUR – Wednesday 14 May 2008
THE INTERNATIONAL SEX
WORKER HARM REDUCTION
CAUCUS
has been newly formed by
sex workers and their organisations
from all over the world, including the
Network of Sex Work Projects, the
European SWAN network, the Sex-
workers and Allies Network of
Sweden (SANS), Australia’s Scarlet
Alliance, and American groups
including the Sex Worker Outreach
Project (SWOP), the Best Practices
Policy Project (BPPP), Saint James
Infirmary, the Desiree Alliance,
Bayswan and Different Avenues.
Sex workers from around
the world gather under
the same banner
Evidence for ibogaine ‘unconvincing’
The evidence to support the use of ibogaine in treating heroin dependence is
unconvincing, alcohol and drug service director Alex Wodak told delegates at
Monday evening’s ‘user’s choice’ session.
Sex workers from different countries are using the
conference as an opportunity to share discussion of
harm reduction at an international level