An invitation to talk about drug use and demystify harm reduction with Dr. Patt Denning

When:

Wednesday March 28th at 7PM

Where: SF GLBT Center

1800 Market Street at Octavia

Dr. Patt Denning, Director of Clinical Services & Training of the San Francisco's Harm Reduction Therapy Center, has written "Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy" and is the co-author of "Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol". Dr. Denning is a well known speaker on issues of drug policy, especially as it affects the practice of psychotherapy. She is dedicated to training mental health professionals to use respectful, flexible, and effective treatment strategies with their substance-using clients.

Dr. Denning has graciously accepted the invitation to speak at this Speed Project event.

Here is a short interview with Patt so you can check out where she is coming from.

 

SPEEDOMETER: Could you talk to me a little bit about what people can expect if they come to the forum on harm reduction?

PATT: To get rid of some common misconceptions about what harm reduction is and isn't, I will talk about 2 big things. A lot of people ask, are you recommending harm reduction or are your recommending abstinence? What's the GOAL? And it's like, no! no! no!....harm reduction is about how you talk to someone. Harm reduction is really about how you develop a conversation and a relationship with someone to help them decide what their goal is.

I think that misconception has been polarizing traditional treatment folks and harm reduction folks for 15 years and I think it's an unnecessary fight. There are plenty of other things we can fight about. There are a lot of differences between traditional treatment and harm reduction treatment- but the idea of the goal being abstinence or not is not part of the fight. What the fight is really about is letting people make choices and acknowledging that drug users have rights and they have rights to make choices even if we don't agree with it, and that it's not my life. You know, as a therapist it's my job to help somebody figure out how they want to live their life. So, I think that's one thing I'll talk about at the Center.

The other thing is to talk about what people don't seem to want to talk about...which is reality. Especially when the combination of drugs and sex comes into play, speed and sex in particular, nobody wants to talk about reality. The reality is that sex doesn't feel the same without speed. It really doesn't. And there's not gonna be a substitute. Yes, there are all sorts of great erotic hot sex that people can have and can learn to have and its not going to be the same. I think that conversation about giving up something that there's not going to be a substitute for is something that nobody wants to talk about. Sex is not going to be as wild or as crazy or as hot or whatever, without speed. It's just not going to be... because hey, guess what... it's not natural. You know, that's why people use drugs. Because they want something that is bigger, better, and more powerful than natural. That's a really human trait.

When you get in trouble- and not everybody gets into trouble with speed and speed and sex- but if you get into trouble with it, then it really does mean a loss. It means giving up something that you've really enjoyed.

I think people don't talk about that much. Therapists don't talk about it much, people who are doing "hot sex workshops" don't really spend much time talking about reality...which is...there is no substitute for hyped up sex. So, I will probably talk about those things, I'll probably tell a couple of really stupid jokes, I am noted for that. 

SPEEDOMETER: Is that a promise?

PATT: Yeah I promise. I will be opinionated and tell bad jokes as I always do, that's a guarantee. Patt promises to have opinions that people often don't like and to tell really bad jokes.

SPEEDOMETER: For guys who are volunteering for our project... if they were gonna have a sound byte to tell their friends to try to get them interested in coming to this forum, what should they say?

PATT: Specifically about guys who party and play? Umm....well lets see....it would be something like, "You're right, sex without speed sucks. Okay now what? Now what?"

SPEEDOMETER: Cool, that was a good sound byte.

All Welcome!

Come High, come low, come as you are!

HARM REDUCTION THERAPY CENTER - An Alternative Treatment for Addiction

The Harm Reduction Therapy Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to effectively treat people having trouble with drugs and alcohol, especially those with significant emotional problems.

Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (HRP) - Based on the belief that substance abuse results from an interaction of biological, psychological and social factors, HRP takes a non-judgmental approach to treating drug use and other life problems. Eliminating drug and alcohol use is only one of a menu of treatment goals that a person can freely choose. The model is unique in that it addresses the relationship between drugs and alcohol and emotional problems and is based on the reality that change happens in small steps.

Treatment Services:

• Full evaluation of drug and alcohol problems as well as mental and emotional health
• Individual and/or group treatment that integrates drug and other issues
• Psychiatric evaluation and treatment
• Medical triage and referral
• An 8-week Intensive Outpatient Program that includes a strong educational and self-evaluation component
• A walk-in clinic

For treatment services, or for more information, call HRTC at 415 863 4282. You can also check them out at www.harmreductiontherapy.org

For FREE services:

Harm Reduction Support Group

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30pm-2:30pm at SELF HELP CENTER, 288 Turk (at Leavenworth)
• Wednesdays from 9:30am-10:30am, Thursdays from 2pm-3pm at Tenderloin Health, 187 Golden Gate (at Leavenworth)

Talk with others who are going through it, get the input of professionals who facilitate. All groups are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL, run by the Harm Reduction Therapy Center. An alternative to AA and/or NA.