A WORD FROM THE EDITOR!
Welcome to Tx! Mag #46!
In our fi rst of two stories we meet Mike. Mike has something on his mind, something that is niggling him.
He has been noticing the hep C posters and fl yers in the Correctional Centre. Should he take the next step to get tested and cured?
His niggling thoughts are not going away so what is he going to do? Find out in "From Struggle to Strength".
Our second story introduces Jane. Every night Jane is couch-surfi ng and every day she is looking for a hot meal. Each day those two things are top of her to-do list. She doesn't have time for anything else...that is until she meets a friendly peer worker.
Jane shares injecting equipment with her friends so she knows she might have hep C but will she listen to the peer worker? Find out in "The Odds Get Better".
This edition has our usual puzzles, a competition and a survey. You can go in the draw to win $100 Coles/Myer voucher for both the survey (p18) and competition (p30), so fi ll them out and send them in...no postage required! And yes, the prizes do go to real people.
Hope you enjoy Tx! MAG #46!
Cheers!
Steven Tx! Mag Ed
Aside from Hepatitis NSW editorial content, views expressed in this magazine or fl yers enclosed with it are not necessarily those of Hepatitis NSW or the organisations with whom we collaborate. Neither are such views necessarily those of our funding bodies. Tx! Mag does not promote or condone the use of illicit drugs. Rather, it seeks to provide accurate information that will help people who already use drugs to reduce risks and make safer choices. Nothing in this magazine should be taken as recommending drug use.
Hepatitis NSW is proud to acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of our lands and waters.
EDITOR/DESIGNER
Steven Davis
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Athena Mumbulla
Justine (JD) Doidge
Maria McMahon
Julie Browning
Thomas Wright
Alex Wade
Gary Gahan
Camilla Lobo
Shana Quale
SPECIAL THANKS
Grace Crowley
FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH
Writer: Charlie Foster
Artist: Trev Wood
THE ODDS GET BETTER
Writer: Charlie Foster
Artist: Arturo Palacios
CONSULTANTS
gestaltcomics.com
Hepatitis Infoline
1800 803 990 (freecall)
e: info@hep.org.au
w: hep.org.au
facebook: facebook.com/HepNSW
youtube: bit.ly/HNSWYT instagram: @hepatitis_NSW PO Box 432
Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
ABN 30 408 095 245 A non-profit health promotion charity funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. Accredited by the Quality Improvement Council of Australia (QIC). Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.
CUT OUT & SHARE
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
Want to get tested for hep C?
Have a chat with your doctor
If you've never tested for hep C... ...ask for an antibody test!
If you've had hep C before... ...ask for a PCR/HCV RNA test!
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE CURED OF HEP C!
TREATMENT IS SO MUCH BETTER TODAY!
Curing your hep C means you don’t have to worry about passing it on to your partner, friends, or family. If you’re cured, the worry is gone.
TESTING
There are more choices and ways to test...
n Point of Care finger prick test with results in 40 minutes;
n Dried Blood Spot (DBS) finger prick test with results by text, call or email. You can get a DBS kit posted to you. (For more info on DBS see page 26.)
You can get tested at...
n sexual health clinics;
n doctor’s clinics;
n drug and alcohol services;
n needle and syringe programs (NSPs);
n Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS).
TREATMENT AND CURE
The new treatment is a game changer…
n cures over 95% of people;
n has very few side-effects;
n is pills only, just 1 or 3 pills a day;
n no injections, no interferon;
n takes 8 or 12 weeks; and
n can be prescribed by local clinics, doctors and registered nurse practitioners.
Everyone has the right to the new hep C cure, even if you...
n have cirrhosis or liver damage;
n are using;
n drink alcohol;
n have been treated before and got hep C again;
n have been treated in the old interferon days and it didn’t work;
n are in prison; and/or
n live with a mental health condition.
5 PUT IT IN THE POST TO US (NO NEED TO BUY A STAMP, IT'S FREE TO SEND) * THESE $100 VOUCHERS CAN BE USED AT COLES/MYER & AFFILIATED STORES.
TX! survey#46
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS...
7. Please describe yourself: (tick as many as you like) person with hep C/cured of hep C person with hep B current prisoner
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander someone who doesn't usually speak English at home other (please let us know)
calling the Hepatitis Infoline going to the Hepatitis NSW website talking to someone about support services talking to someone else about hepatitis it hasn't made me think about doing anything other (please let us know)
Hepatitis NSW respects your right to privacy. We have a policy and set of procedures on how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal info. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit hep.org.au People in custody, please name a person to receive the gift card and pay into your Buy-Up.
Congrats to Ewan F. who won a $100 Coles/Myer voucher from Tx! Mag #45.
Thank you to the many people who sent in their feedback over the last three months! We love to get, and appreciate, your input.
Tx! COMPETITION
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS...
All you have to do to win is answer these four questions correctly, just tick the right box! We'll choose one entry at random and the first one with all answers right will be the winner!
1. Can you get treated for hep C as many times as necessary? [FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH]
Yes, if you get hep C again you can get treated and cured again. Um...no?
Don't know... I have to read FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH...
Banh Mi
2. Does it matter how you got hep C? [THE ODDS ARE GETTING BETTER]
No! Never! Stigma & discrimination put people off getting tested and treated for hep C. Um...yes?
Don't know... I have to read THE ODDS ARE GETTING BETTER... Hamburger
3. Is there a cure for hep C? [FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH]
Yes - See your nurse or doctor, give them the cut-out card on page 13 Um...no?
Don't know... I have to read FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH...
Egg sandwich
4. Are needles used during a hep C test? [THE ODDS ARE GETTING BETTER]
No, it's just a pinprick and a few drops of blood. Um...eh?
Don't know... I have to read THE ODDS ARE GETTING BETTER... Sausage sanga
TELL US YOUR DEETS...
People in custody, please name a person to receive the gift card and pay into your Buy-Up.
This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one entry per person. We'll contact the winner & announce their name in the next issue.
Hepatitis NSW respects your right to privacy. We have a policy and set of procedures on how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal info. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit hep.org.au
Congrats to Sonya B. who was the lucky winner from last edition's competition draw!
FIND-A-WORD!
EASY AS SUDOKU
NUMBERS
Each grid is partially completed with numbers. The goal is to fi ll the missing numbers into the grid - from 1 to 4. In each column, row and grid you can use each number only once.
Can you fi nd all 30 of these words in the puzzle above?
The words might go up or down, left or right, forwards or backwards. The solution is below, but no peeking!
BAR
PEER DBS
TESTING TREATMENT CHANGE SHARE CONVERSATION POSTER PAINLESS GUIDE HEALTH STRONGER RELEASE CHALLENGE FREEDOM REWARD TRANSFORM COURAGE JOURNEY
WORLD CERTAIN MENTOR NURSE TEAM ALLIES HALFWAY WORDS CURED CONQUER
SHAPES
Each grid is partially completed with shapes - star, circle, square, triangle. The goal is to fi ll the missing shapes. In each column, row and grid you can use each shape only once.
TX! MAG #45 [HEP B]
Easy As Jimmy is in a serious relationship and his Elders impart some words of wisdom about getting tested and vaccinated for hep B.
TX! MAG #44 [HEP C]
Turning the Truck Around Andy got hep C. Stigma weighs upon him. Aunt has great advice & joins him on his treatment path. Meanwhile Laura WON'T talk about hep C. Daughter, Katie, has other ideas.
TX! MAG #43 [HEP C]
Groundhog Week
Living with low energy is a common symptom of hep C. Bill struggles day after day until fi nally he stops to chat with "Hep Cured" lived experience peer, Jo.
CROSSWORD 1
ACROSS (3)
1. Long pole to move a boat
3. Short name for a quad bike
5. Jointed appendage with fingers
6. A child's play thing
8. Boil spaghetti in this
10. Bezzie mate
12. Everything
14. Slippy
15. Half of a half (abbreviation)
16. Opposite of beginning
DOWN (3)
1. Porridge is made of this
2. Beam of sunshine
3. Measure of electricity
4. Person who looks after animals
7. Opposite of ON
9. Put this in a car engine
10. Cook snags on this
11. A tree with pine cones
12. Hey!
13. Liquid Crystal Display
Solution next page
D A N A B G I E R
How many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the centre letter, and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No foreign words, no words with initial capitals and no hyphenated words.
What's your score?
7 Meh. But at least you tried!
13 Pretty good, eh?
22 Awesome
34 Holy crap! Mega genius!
50+ You are clearly a human dictionary and/or computer...we didn't even know half of those crazy words!
Answers next page
A little bit harder...!
1. Skill or talent (7)
6. A chicken came from one (3)
7. When snow gets warm this happens (5)
8. To bend the truth (3)
9. To collect uncontrollably (5)
10. Mismatched socks(3)
12. Leg joint (4)
15. Collections of singers (6)
17. A Greek wrapped sandwich with yoghurt (4)
18. Similar to "Gosh!" (3)
1. Wiley Coyote made his purchases here (4)
2. A home of ice blocks (5)
3. To pay in case of damage, eg car(6)
4. Utter a loud shout (4)
5. Negotiated and finally settled (5)
9. Convenient (5)
11. Truth or _ _ _ _ game (4)
13. Good for the natural environment (3)
14. One of many in a watch (3)
16. It is that (2)
TARGET SOLUTION
Bargained, gabardine, abrading, bearding, breading, drainage, gardenia, abridge, bandier, bargain, bearing, brained, brigade, brigand, grained, reading, abrade, airbag, airbed, badger, banger, barged, baring, binder, binger, bridge, danger, daring, earing, gander, garden, inbred, radian, rained, ranged, rebind, regain, ringed, aider, aired, anger, arena, barde, bared, barge, beard, braid, brain, brand, bread, bride, brine, bring, dinar, diner, dirge, drain, grade, grain, grand, gride, grind, nadir, rabid, raged, range, rebid, reign, ridge, agar, area, aria, arid, bard, bare, barn, bear, berg, bird, brad, brag, bran, bred, brei, brie, brig, dare, darn, dear, dire, drab, drag, dreg, earn, garb, gear, gird, grab, grad, gran, grid, grin, nard, near, nerd, rage, raid, rain, rand, rang, read, rein, rend, ride, rind, ring
