Launching a Truly Collaborative Approach to Reducing Harm for Psychostimulant Users

Moreland Hall takes great pleasure in announcing the launch of its new amphetamine-type stimulants website, Bluebelly – with eyes wide open

http://www.bluebelly.org.au/

The website was developed by the Education and Training Team to provide a publically accessible space to develop relevant and engaging harm reduction information for users of ecstasy, meth/amphetamines and cocaine. Embracing the motto ‘none of us knows everything, but all of us know some things’, the site allows members to edit all harm reduction articles, grouped under easy-to-find sub-headings.
Registration for membership of the site is anonymous and open to anyone.  Once registered, members can edit articles to correct them or provide additional information in addition to adding comments or posting their own stories.
It is hoped that by collaborating to generate optimal advice we can both inform users about amphetamine-type stimulants as well as develop innovative resources for harm-reduction and treatment services.
Key aspects of the Bluebelly site include:

• Fully editable harm-reduction articles
• Your Stories – a forum for users to share stories, tips and warnings
• How They Work – animations and information describing the effects of amphetamine-type stimulants on the brain and body
• A pre and post-party recipe book with dietician recommended, easy-to-prepare food ideas.  You can also submit your own recipes to be nutritionally analysed and published
• Interactive games, videos and music
• A harm-reduction short  film competition – to win a fully paid trip to the IHRA Conference Film Festival in Liverpool 2010
• Links to recommended pathways for more information and help, including a complete self-help section soon to be added

The structure and content of the site was informed by a reference group comprised of harm reduction advocates and users of amphetamine-type stimulants, who stated that they wanted believable, useful, user-generated content presented in an interactive manner.
“With this project we are trying to access a group of ecstasy and amphetamine users that are currently unaddressed by services,” says CEO Laurence Alvis.  “The interactive nature of the site is designed to appeal primarily to 18-35 year olds and to provide a space for knowledge-sharing”.
The project leader Ray Stephens said “One of the great things about Bluebelly is that because the harm reduction articles are wikis, you can add to the collective knowledge and improve on what is there!” 
Bluebelly will continue to evolve with input from representatives from all walks of life. So get on board, open your eyes and have a look around. We are sure you will like what you see, but if you’re not completely happy then change it!

For Further Media Information Contact :
Ray Stephens ICT project Leader on 03 9384 8894 or
Julie Bowen Director of Communication and Workforce Development on 03 9384 8880