This presentation was created in collaboration with Youth RISE (with special thanks to Murtaza Mageed, Afghanistan) for the 2011 Spring TRIP! training. It includes information on harm reduction and drug use, as applied to the rave scene. The presentation also should include a safer consumption demonstration, as well as Forum Theatre activities performed in groups in order to stimulate outreach settings and critical dialog among volunteers.

1. Harm Reduction 101 KylaZanardi, Lisa Campbell Salazar & Kai’enneTyrmerik

2. What is a drug?

3. What is a drug?

4. What is a drug?

5. What is a drug?

7. Vin Mariani

8. Why do people use drugs?

9. Hierarchy of Use What are the MOST stigmatized substances?? The least? Why??

10. Drugs are seen as more/less harmful We base our judgment on: Frequency of use Route of Admin Legality Class of people Impact on personal health Impact on social circles Personal experience

12. Stigma and Drug Use

14. Harm Reduction 101 How do you define Harm Reduction? What are some basic examples of Harm Reduction? give me a list of community organizations that you know – shout them out! Where do they fall?

17. An enforcer I ain’t! Harm reduction has become a bastardized word in our society! “…Harm reduction, in a sense, takes many forms. To me, prevention is harm reduction. Treatment is harm reduction. Enforcement is harm reduction.” – Tony Clement

18. The War on Drugs Latin America Coca leaves Colonization Regulation Criminalization South Africa Colonial / Apartheid Selective Alcohol Prohibition as State-Sanctioned Racial Segregation Tool

19. Safer Consumption

20. Safer Injection People who inject drugs are at much greater risk of HIV/Hep Ctransmission. As a result, many health departments have set up programs to increase safe disposal of used works (needles and crack pipes) and distribute clean items to those who are in need. Canada’s only safe injection site, Insite, currently runs in Vancouver.

21. Injection and Stigma There are many risks associated with injection drug use Important to not judge users and focus on providing life saving information

22. Fuck safe, shoot clean! Sharp Shooters is a safer injection handbook put out by Central Toronto Community Health Centres and Counterfit at South Riverdale Community Health Centre Wehave brought one for everyone! Yay!

23. Harm Reduction @ Raves Great Britain responded to the health risks posed by raves byattempting to prohibit them. Rave organizers faced fines ofup to 20,000 pounds and 6 months in prison, and police wereallowed to remove vehicles and sound equipment from any raveevent. These measures seemed to fail because the parties simplymoved into legitimate clubs, and this increased the risks involvedwith mixing drugs and alcohol. A recent UK survey of 16- to29-year-olds showed that 9% of respondents had used ecstasy;this rose to 91% among members of the dance-club scene.43

24. Harm Reduction @ Raves An alternative is to encourage harm reduction by ensuring thatbuildings meet safety and health standards, adequate securityis provided to accommodate the large number of attendees andeducation about health effects is available from trainedvolunteers (YOU GUYS!) and from pamphlets and information cards.Such initiatives have been adopted by the ravecommunity and municipal and public health authorities and are being considered by some provincial regulatory authorities.

27. Peer Educators

28. Free Water / Fruit

29. Gum and Earplugs

30. Medics

31. Safer Consumption

32. Sexual Health

33. Testing

35. Forum Theatre! Bodywork (5 mins) Forum Theatre (10 mins) Scenarios (20 mins) Debrief (25 mins)

36. Scenario 1: Life Needs Intrude Raver approaches the booth chewing on a soother and decked out in kandi Spends the next three hours checking out the literature, stuffing the pockets of hirphat pants with condoms, lube and straws After hours of talking about life, love and the pursuit of happiness, sie admits that ze’s been having suicidal thoughts and tried to overdose on pain killers last week WHAT WOULD YOU FOLKS DO?

37. Scenario 1: Salient Features Sometimes drug use allows us to open up and share things with strangers that we would never do while sober The TRIP! Booth can be a safe haven for partiers who don’t feel comfortable accessing traditional mental health services How can we make sure that she has supports when she comes down? The next three days might be fun and full of sketch, but when Wednesday comes around she will need support and care 17 of 22

38. Scenario 2: It’s all crayzeemaaan! “Buddy” is with a big group of friends who are very concerned as he is not very communicative and can’t walk unless helped. Buddy is on 2 caps of E and 1 tab of LSD. He thinks he is going crazy and that the way he feels will never end. He also thinks that the world is going crazy too. WHAT WOULD YOU FOLKS DO?

39. Scenario 2: Salient Features Is “Buddy” the one with the problem? Large group of worried friends (who also are high) How much longer will Buddy be this high? Buddy’s mental state and self-beliefs Buddy’s concerns about the world

40. Scenario 3: OMG SO HIGH !! 15 year-old raver comes to the booth with big pupils professing hir love for the universe After having a short conversation, sie reveals that sie took 5 pills in the last two hours 1 hour later sie is on the floor in a giant cuddle puddle You notice her eyes are rolling back and she seems semi-conscious WHAT DO YOU DO?????!

41. Scenario 3: Salient Features Is sie conscious enough to give consent? Are hir friends nearby? Can you check in with them? Do they have hir best interests at heart? Are you sure the person with her is a friend or stranger? Prevent yourself from making judgement calls, but be careful to check in with hir and hir friends

42. Scenario 4: Going down the rabbit hole? Youth is found passed out in the corner of the party, and someone remarks, “OMG what a ktard” The party is packed, with no ins and outs for all ages Sie starts to convulse and vomit, while people continue to complain about how K is ruining the scene. WHAT DO YOU DO?????!

43. Scenario 4: Salient Features Not making assumptions about what someone is using Making sure that people get care immediately, including water and fresh air Knowing when to call the paramedics Knowing overdose prevention while paramedics or ambulance is on the way Not being afraid to call 911

44. QUESTIONS?

45. Helpful Resources www.Erowid.com www.Bluelight.ru www.Pillreports.com www.Wikipedia.org www.dancesafe.org www.ecstacydata.org www.tripproject.ca