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All users are welcome! Although taking some drugs is currently illegal, injecting drug users (IDUs, or users) have serious health needs and are entitled to the same standards of health care and services as anyone else in the community. SAVIVE provides the support, knowledge and equipment users need to look after their health, regardless of whether they wish to continue their drug use or not. SAVIVE’s approach SAVIVE has a community-based approach to harm reduction which includes peer education. Peer education has been a significant part of Australia 's successful approach to HIV/AIDS. It continues to be important in preventing hepatitis B and C, preventing overdose deaths, and for informing users of the services available to them. Peer education is effective because people learn best from others like themselves who share the same values and relate in similar ways. Because users often distrust information on drug use coming from mainstream sources, they can best learn about ways of reducing risks from 'peers'. SAVIVE staff and volunteers are a part of the peer education process, but it is users themselves who do important peer education in their own networks, using resources and support from SAVIVE. Peer education demonstrates that working with users can deliver health benefits to the whole community.
Fighting discrimination "Userphobia" is widespread and entrenched in our society. It makes it difficult for users to access adequate health and human services. Users subsequently bear an unequal burden of ill-health. In most cases, discrimination stems from fear and ignorance. By talking to people from all walks of life, especially doctors, nurses, police, teachers, and students in the health disciplines, SAVIVE can help dispel myths and unfounded fears about users, and can present the user's perspective and experience of the health system. Advocacy and lobbying SAVIVE advocates for users experiencing difficulties with service providers, and lobbies on behalf of all users for better services and standards of care. Policy development and intersectoral collaboration Due to its peer contact with users, SAVIVE is able to contribute to research and the development of policies in an informed way, benefiting users and the whole community. Clean Needle Program SAVIVE is part of the state-wide Clean Needle Program (CNP). There are many outlets participating in the CNP, making sterile injecting equipment and health information available to injectors throughout South Australia. CNPs have been instrumental in containing the threat of a major HIV/AIDS epidemic in Australia and they continue to play an important role in preventing the further spread of hepatitis B and C. To find the nearest Clean Needle Program site phone the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1300 131 340 or refer to our Contact Us page. SAVIVE peer educators are located in the following CNPs:
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SAVIVE is the injecting drug users' community program of the AIDS Council of South Australia. It works to promote better health for people who inject drugs, their families and the broader community. 
