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About Jacqui
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I am committed to Harm reduction (is it a dirty word in America??), a philosophy which acknowledges that people are going to continue to use drugs despite all of the effort put into stopping it (case in point - US government drug war ... trillions of dollars, people still using ... hello??) Anyway, I advocate to support people who use drugs by reducing the harms associated with their use through needle and syringe programs, advocating for drug law reform (alcohol legal, marijuana not ... go figure?). I currently manage a service that provides primary health care, health education and needle and syringe program to people who inject. I have also worked as an "on the ground" worker for many years and am currently studying a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Happy to answer questions about blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C, questions about dependency on opiates and other substances. Questions about treatment (particulary methadone and buprenorphine). Questions about harm reduction and why we bother with it. I can try to answer questions about drug tests. As an alternative to my fellow experts, I won't be judging anyone. If anyone has taken a sip of a coffee, or drunk a beer, then ... well we are all drug users, and I don't think we are going to see an end to it! Deal with the real, I say.

Experience
Manage a primary health service for people who inject drugs, and have worked at that centre for 7 years

Organizations
Registered as a provisional psychologist with the Victorian Psychologists registration board (this is for psychologists working under supervision or currently studying a masters). Much of my experience is related to my work rather than to my studies

Publications
conference proceedings - IHRC 2004 & 2005, NSP Conference 2005, Stigma-Pleasure-Practice conference 2006

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, currently studying a masters of clinical psychology, completed one half of a graduate certificate in Addiction studies (transferred to psychology as it had better career prospects) - lots and lots of short training courses.

Awards and Honors
Presented at international conferences (Harm Reduction Conference in Thailand and Melbourne)

   

You are here:  Experts > Teens > Health for Teens > Addiction to Drugs

Questions Answered By Expert  Jacqui 
In Category  Addiction to Drugs

SubjectDate Asked

hello10/5/2008
  Q: what are the affects that drugs have on people and who to recognise these affects?please i will like ...
  A: This site is generally for people who have concerns about drugs and unfortunately I can't help you ...
Methadone withdrawal9/30/2008
  Q: Jacqui, I am a 38yr old woman currently coming off methadone-I have been on a program for 10months, ...
  A: Lisa, I really empathise with your situation. It is not easy to come off methadone, especially the ...
bone pain w/ long termmethadonedetox9/29/2008
  Q: iam a 32yr old who has been onmethadone maintenance for 61/2 yrs,don't drink smoke or take any pills ...
  A: I guess I have a few questions: Firstly - what dose did you start on and how quickly did you ...
My question9/24/2008
  Q: Well my question is about the aftermath of weed. Well I used aweed a couple times and then I had a ...
  A: Firstly, I would need some more information about what you are feeling. It is possible that the ...
hydrocondone addiction9/15/2008
  Q: I have not told anyone about this yet, but I am addicted to hydrocodone and benzodiazapines. I take ...
  A: Hey Diana, I am pleased that I could be of help! Try what I put above but reducing 1.25 instead of ...
weed9/11/2008
  Q: Hey I thoroughly enjoy smoking weed, yet it makes me stupider than i am when i am sober. I smoke to ...
  A: Hey Steve, Funny, but that is how I feel when I read about American politics (and I am not in ...
effects of Crack8/31/2008
  Q: Hair loss. Lumps, Food cravings, burning ribs 3 weeks clean normal or not
  A: Hey Kat, This doesn't sound typical of someone who hasn't used crack for three weeks. I would ...
recovery from heroin8/22/2008
  Q: for the last3 year i had been in to recovery from heroin, still i am having mood swings and various ...
  A: Hey Adam, From the additional information I do believe that your situation is probably related to a ...
recovery from heroin8/21/2008
  Q: for the last3 year i had been in to recovery from heroin, still i am having mood swings and various ...
  A: I am thinking that, by now, your mood swings are nothing to do with heroin. People use drugs for ...
Caring for Crack-Addicted Sister's 6yr old son8/20/2008
  Q: How do I help him to understand his Mommy is not dead but very sick. He thinks she is never coming ...
  A: Firstly I must apologise for not responding to your question in a timely manner. I have been away ...
My 20 yr old son is a danger to himself and others8/20/2008
  Q: April 2nd 2008 my son was huffing dust off with a 16 yr old girl while driving. He past out at the ...
  A: Firstly I must apologise for not responding immediately. I have returned from a vacation but forgot ...
cannabis8/17/2008
  Q: if it's true taht smoking marijuana has good effects, what are they? thanx, keenan
  A: Hey Keenan, Firstly, I guess I need to understand what you mean when you say "good". All drugs ...
Drug Illusion.8/15/2008
  Q: I have smoked weed about 4 or five times with friends , im 18 now and decided i want to stop doing ...
  A: Firstly I must apologise for not responding more promptly, I was interstate and forgot to switch my ...
Drug addict son of 24 yrs old8/12/2008
  Q: Over the past 8 yrs he's gone from bad to worse. A year ago was the last straw when we kicked him ...
  A: Hey John, It has actually been a really nice experience for me to communicate with you. I guess my ...
Drug addict son of 24 yrs old8/11/2008
  Q: Over the past 8 yrs he's gone from bad to worse. A year ago was the last straw when we kicked him ...
  A: Hey John, To tell you the truth, I am surprised that you even asked me this question (have you read ...
PROMETA8/7/2008
  Q: (having been a junky for 4 yrs, yes- harm reduction is a sin in america.. luckily that is behind me ...
  A: Hey Leslie, Big apologies for taking a while to reply. Work was chaotic on Thursday (police ...
PROMETA8/4/2008
  Q: (having been a junky for 4 yrs, yes- harm reduction is a sin in america.. luckily that is behind me ...
  A: Hey L, I am loving getting your questions! Anyway, Texas ... mmm ... bloody big state, but as our ...
PROMETA8/1/2008
  Q: (having been a junky for 4 yrs, yes- harm reduction is a sin in america.. luckily that is behind me ...
  A: Hey L, Great question. It is fantastic to be challenged by this site! Anyway, I must admit, I had ...
drugs in your system7/24/2008
  Q: Tuesday i whent to my pain management doc and he tested me and i had weed & meth in my system he ...
  A: I had to google walnut creek to see where on earth it was! Seems to be relatively close to San ...
drugs in your system7/23/2008
  Q: Tuesday i whent to my pain management doc and he tested me and i had weed & meth in my system he ...
  A: Hey Dog, Tricky situation. Yep, majiuana can stay in your system for a long time. In people who ...
Cocaine use & dopamine7/22/2008
  Q: I have a question about the use of cocaine and its impact on regular life. When I was studying the ...
  A: I had a chat to a friend of mine who is expert in this stuff, and basically cocaine works to ...
Ambien overuse during pregnancy7/14/2008
  Q: My wife is 25 weeks pregnant and a recovering drug addict. She has been clean since the pregnancy ...
  A: Hey Al, Thanks for your question. Drug use in pregnancy is one of those most stigmatizing of ...
percocet7/1/2008
  Q: i have been taking percocets for 6 months now. i've gotten myself down to 3 10mgs a day. im scared ...
  A: Yes you are likely to experience some anxiety coming off this kind of medication. Percocet is ...
Drug testing (specifically mouth swabs)6/22/2008
  Q: Does Klonopin test positive for benzos? PLEASE HELP!!!!
  A: Unfortunately I don't have much information about mouth swabs. However, Klonopin is Clonazepam, ...
My Husband and Heroin6/21/2008
  Q: My husband and I have been married for a year together for two and about a year before he met me -he ...
  A: The short answer is - "yes". You are being unrealistic. If people could just stop because they ...
girlfriend is a chronic pain suffer which has lead to severe addiction5/19/2008
  Q: i AM INVOLVED WITH A WONDERFUL WOMAN...BEFORE THIS HAPPENED SHE WAS THE WOMAN OF MY DREAMS. SHE WAS ...
  A: Hey Marty, Thanks for getting back to me with so much info. It makes it easier to try to come up ...
girlfriend is a chronic pain suffer which has lead to severe addiction5/18/2008
  Q: i AM INVOLVED WITH A WONDERFUL WOMAN...BEFORE THIS HAPPENED SHE WAS THE WOMAN OF MY DREAMS. SHE WAS ...
  A: Hey Marty, Sounds like you have been a fantastic support, but it is all just getting too much. ...
Heroinaddiction5/15/2008
  Q: Ive just found out that my boyfriend and father to my 2 children is taking 28ml of methadone daily, ...
  A: I am sorry about your relationship as it does sound like there are lots of problems happening. I ...
heroin5/11/2008
  Q: she says that sometimes she has breathing problems when she is using it. I would like to know if it ...
  A: and apologies for not answering straight away - I have been laid up with a cold! Anyway, I guess ...
Opiates5/5/2008
  Q: I have been addicted to opiates off and on for 6 years. i am on week 2 today of cold turkey and ...
  A: Hey John, People can have different responses from opiate withdrawal and it does not seem overly ...
Addiction to Methadone5/2/2008
  Q: I'll try and make this brief. Addicted to hydrocodone for approx. 2.5 yrs. Before totally ...
  A: Hey, Thanks for your query. I am in Australia and I assume that TN is Tennasee?? (Sorry if I am ...
my boyfriend is a recovering heroin addict!5/1/2008
  Q: not only that but he was on a methhadone script and been doin all this for about a year. i was soo ...
  A: Sianne, Yes this is very difficult and you can't compete because you offer different things. Given ...
my boyfriend is a recovering heroin addict!4/29/2008
  Q: not only that but he was on a methhadone script and been doin all this for about a year. i was soo ...
  A: Sianne, I am glad that you have been able to come to a resolution. Ultimately you need to do what ...
benzodiapines4/10/2008
  Q: PLEASE COULD YOU TELL ME HOW LONG BENZODIAZPINES CAN STAY IN MY SYSTEM FOR. FOR EXAMPLE DRUG SCREEN ...
  A: Unfortunately I would need more information before I could answer this question as there are a lot ...
worried-found Mecke's reagent in friends room3/14/2008
  Q: My dear friend (ex-boyfriend) has me worried. He used to have a problem with heroin years ago. After ...
  A: I guess there are a couple of things to consider. If you do confront your friend, he is likely to ...
Cocaine3/6/2008
  Q: I do have a serious question. I am sixteen years old. And I have been using cocaine for the past ...
  A: You raise a good point. The problem with a lot the information about illicit drugs is that it is ...
DRUGS2/28/2008
  Q: MY SON DIED IN DECEMBER 2007, HE WAS ON COCAIN, AND HAD STAPH INFECTION, FROM USING NEEDLES. AND I ...
  A: Lucille, I am genuinely sorry to hear about what happened to your family. There are a lot of ...
addict to meth1/11/2008
  Q: what do you do when you trust no one.. you are 19 lost everyone you love even my lil boy you have ...
  A: I am glad that you got back to me. You could try making contact with the following agencies - I ...
addict to meth1/10/2008
  Q: what do you do when you trust no one.. you are 19 lost everyone you love even my lil boy you have ...
  A: I sounds like you are really depressed and I am concerned about your wellbeing. There are a few ...
Will my heroin addicted bf commit suicide if I leave him?1/4/2008
  Q: I cannot believe the journey I've traveled to finally arrive at this website, typing these thoughts ...
  A: You letter is so powerful, and you really seem at your wits end. I have read it twice, and although ...
using suboxone for the first couple of days of herion withdrawl12/26/2007
  Q: i am in the process of kicking herion.i am on my third day,but i,ve been taking pieces of subxone to ...
  A: Hey Shanon, Sounds like you have it pretty sorted but just need some reassurance. Suboxone is quite ...
How can I Beat this?12/9/2007
  Q: I am going crazy right now. I don't know what to do anymore. I have hit rock bottom. I thought I ...
  A: I am sorry to hear that you are so stressed. A couple of things stand out about your question. ...
help - boyfriend craving herion when on methadone11/30/2007
  Q: My boyfriend has been on the methadone programn for 2 months but he is starting to struggle with the ...
  A: What a coincidence! Anyway, the different states in Australia vary quite a bit, however in Victoria ...
help - boyfriend craving herion when on methadone11/29/2007
  Q: My boyfriend has been on the methadone programn for 2 months but he is starting to struggle with the ...
  A: Yes many people don't realise that many heroin users do have respectable jobs and it is often more ...

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