Welcome to the International Drug Users Activist List.

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is simply a single email address which redirects mail to many other email addresses. To be a bit more precise, an automated process accepts mail sent to that address, processes it, and resends it to a list of addresses. Internet mailing lists are most often used for discussion groups centered on a specific topic, in which case every subscriber can post to the list. For newsletter distribution, only the author can post and the subscribers just read. An Internet mailing list IS NOT a collection of email addresses sold for the purpose of solicitation (as the term is normally used in advertising).

Who is this list open to?

Drug User Activists anywhere in the world.

Usually this will be people with a track record of user involvement and an interest in international affairs. However, this list may also play an important role for those new to drug user organising in areas with no existing drug user groups.

When we talk about drug users, we mean people who acknowledge that they use, or have used, drugs which are currently illicit. We do not draw distinctions between these different drugs, so we welcome both occasional and daily drug users. It is an important principle of the list that members either are, or have been, drug users; however, active drug use is not a ‘qualification’.

People who may have decided to stop taking drugs ... for a short time, or for much longer ... are very welcome to join the list. The important thing is that you still identify yourself as a drug user and support the right of all people to make informed choices about their drug taking and endorse a harm reduction approach.

To improve the sharing of information between different drug user groups around the world. This recognises that that the expertise in organising drug users exists predominantly within drug user self-organisations. Given the low or no levels of funding in many drug user self-organisations, many activists and groups may have difficulty in staying in touch with one another.

This list is one way of trying to overcome this obstacle. This list was founded to enable drug user activists to link together and thus to share and expand our respective expertise.

This list is not a substitute for an international drug users network but it is hoped that this list will support moves to establish such a network in the future.

1. Personal Abuse:

We should always stick to discussing each other’s views and not resort to making personal attacks.  We should demonstrate respect for each other's opinions even when we strongly disagree.  We should allow each other to change or develop our views as any debate unfolds.  We should be respectful of the different choices we make around our drug use and operate within a framework, which recognises and promotes equality between different races, cultures, genders, sexualities and classes.

2. Disputes Between Activists or Groups:

Where activists, or groups, from one country disagree with each other then these should be worked out at a group or national level.

The list system should only be used to air local disputes when all parties involved in the dispute agree to invite comment from those on the list. Where this happens the problem remains with those in dispute with each other and those on the list can only give advice.  However, this advice should not be about taking sides or getting personal.

If people in dispute with each other want arbitration from other groups or activists, then support can be requested through the list.  However, the actual process of arbitration should take place as a private conversation off the list.  If all parties agree a statement may be made to the list to describe the outcome of the arbitration.

3. Social Issues:

This list is designed as a business list. It is to discuss the development of policy, practice and networking around the international drug users movement. Given the broad base of membership, this is already an ambitious agenda. Closer links between activists from around the world is welcomed but social and personal correspondence should be managed ‘off list’.

If people have lost contact they may seek to re-establish it through the list but not engage in personal discussions on the list.

4. Wider Political Causes:

To avoid flooding the list, members are asked not to raise issues that fall outside the list’s remit through mailings to the list. Where you wish to raise a wider political agenda with fellow drug user activists, please do this ‘off-list’.

5. Attachments:

For the most part, attachments should not be included with emails. This presents problems with both formats and viruses.

Where documents need to be sent out in support of international meetings, then these should be carefully virus checked and should be sent embedded in an email and should also be made available in a number of formats including plain text.

If you want someone to join the list, you just post a message to the list, which explains who the person is and includes their email address. This allows existing members to know who is coming onto the list and ensures that new nominees are actually eligible to join the list. After a nomination has been made to the list, seven days are allowed for objections to be made. Where there are no objections, the relevant gatekeeper will sign the new member up to the list once seven days have elapsed.

If any objection has been made to the nomination, you will see it on the list. If this happens, then the list members discuss the nomination, and the list reaches a consensus about the nomination. The nomination is held open until this process finishes.

The first message that is received by a New List Member is usually this Welcome Note. We suggest that you write to the list and say hello to people and tell them a little about yourself, your group, and the work that you do.

When new people join the list, you may wish to send them a personal welcome. But please do this as a private email, (this is also known as emailing someone ‘off the list’). This avoids flooding the list with welcome messages every time someone new joins.

The rules of the list are simple. Firstly, you should use the list for purpose for which it has been designed. Anything else should be sent as a private email.

Secondly, all list members are entitled to be treated with respect and to feel safe when they use this list. Among other things, this means that we do not discuss membership of the list with people who are not part of the list.

Thirdly, any personal information that is disclosed on this list should be treated as confidential. If you wish to use this information elsewhere, you are expected to seek the person’s permission.

If you use the list inappropriately, a Gatekeeper will remind you of the purpose and rules of the list. If you continue to break the rules you may be removed from the list.

If you feel unsafe or disrespected on the list you can either discuss this you’re your Gatekeeper, with the relevant person or raise the issue on the list. Please remember that all email lists take time to find their feet and that new people may take a while to get a hang of the rules. The Gatekeeper will be available to guide and support this process.