Harm reduction is a holistic framework of practice that empowers people to decide what supports/services work best for them, based on their own unique life situation. Harm reduction can include, but is not limited to: “minimizing risk” & promoting awareness & education surrounding drug use & sexual health through peer leadership, community engagement, education & awareness.

Creating a Safe Space for People Wanting to Access Support

We encourage the use of respectful, non-stigmatizing language when describing substance use & people who use drugs. We also strive to empower people through the use of language that is “Anti-Oppressive”. For example, labels such as “addict” perpetuate societal discourses which shame & stigmatize people who use substances. It is important to recognize these oppressive forms of language & learn from each other about how to dismantle these oppressive discourses in our different communities.

To put it simply, Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies & ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on the belief & respect for the rights of people who use drugs.

Does Harm Reduction Actually Help, or Just Make Things Worse?

Numerous studies have demonstrated that harm reduction programs neither increase substance use, nor do they increase the number of new users. Some studies have shown that harm reduction programs actually increase exposure to treatment options. Nobody ever looked at harm reduction & said “Oh look, harm reduction services! Let’s go do more drugs!” We have NEVER encouraged the use of drugs nor do we somehow increase the use or the presents of drugs. We simply educate those who are using drugs on how to use them safely & what precautions to take while using.

What Are the Key Principles of Harm Reduction?

• Acceptance that drug use is an inedible a part of our world & our community.

• Work to decrease the more immediate harms of drug use vs. simply ignoring or condemn drug use.

• Take a non-judgmental approach to distributing educational information on safe drug use practices.

• Distribute complimentary essential items & services to promote a safe environment.

• Aim to alleviate the stigma around drug use.

• Never attempt to force someone to stop using but instead offer realistically obtainable & affordable resources for available treatment options.

• Aim to educate & facilitate in harm reduction practices while never encouraging or enabling drug use.

• Spread awareness of harm reduction practices.

Harm Reduction 101

1. Always tell somebody what you have taken & how much.

2. Use clean needles & never share injecting equipment.

3. Start with small amounts & wait to consume more.

4. Don’t mix different substances with alcohol.

5. Continuously drink small sips of water.

6. Do not use in an unsafe or unfamiliar environment.

7. Never drive after taking drugs or drinking.

8. Always seek help if you're worried about someone’s health.

9. Practice safe sex.

10. Test your substances for unwanted contaminants.

11. Carry Narcan for opioid overdoses.

12. In the case of an overdose place the individual in the recovery position — this means lay them on their side with their head slightly elevated.

Peer-to-Peer Education is an approach to health promotion, in which community members are supported to promote health-enhancing change among their peers. Peer education is the teaching or sharing of health information, values & behavior in educating others who may share similar social backgrounds or life experiences.

Evidence-based harm reduction & treatment interventions are cost effective, save lives, & deliver critical information & resources to people most at risk of experiencing an overdose.

Examples of Evidence-Based Solutions

1: Substance Testing: Used to determine whether a substance is what it’s reported to be.

2: Narcan Nasal Spray (also called Naloxone): An antidote used exclusively to reverse the effects of an opioid related overdose. When properly administered to someone experiencing an opioid related overdose it blocks the opioid receptors in the brain which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose — typically showing results in just 2-3 minutes after being administered.

3. Good Samaritan Laws: provide limited immunity from prosecution for specific drug offenses for people who summon help at the scene of an overdose.

4: Supervised Consumption Services: Legally sanctioned health care settings where people can use pre-obtained drugs in a clinical setting.

5: Methadone & Suboxone Clinics: Refers to addiction treatment with prescription opioid medications such as Methadone & Suboxone which block the effects of opioid & prevent / relieve withdrawal symptoms & cravings.

What is Sex Work?

Provision of sexual services or performances by one person (Sex Worker) for which a second person (Client or Observer) provides money or other markers of economic value.

Markers of Economic Value May Include:

• Money

• Food

• Shelter

• Drugs

• & More

Sex Work is an Umbrella Term Inclusive of:

• Trade Sex

• Porn Performance

• Dancing

• Phone

• Webcam / Internet

• Survival-Based

• Street-Based

• BDSM

• Magazine

• Film / Video

• Out Calls / In Calls

• & More

Sex Work Can Be Licit or Illicit

Sex work involves a Worker, Consumer and oftentimes, a Manager.

In situations of illicit sex work, risk is involved for all three parties.

Why Do People Engage in Sex Work?

CHOICE

• Julia chooses to work as a dominatrix because the work is profitable & she enjoys it.

• Julia chooses to do sex work.

CIRCUMSTANCE

• Mark is marginally housed & engages in a relationship with Peter to have a place to sleep.

• Mark’s sex work is circumstantial.

COERCION

• Leah’s partner coerces her into trading sex with their supplier in exchange for drugs, even though she doesn’t want to.

• This is a human rights violation & not the same as consensual sex work.

Sex Work is Work

• Everyone who engages in sex work has personal, unique reasons for doing so.

• Sex work is one of the few trades in which someone without any formal education can provide for themselves at an equal level to someone with an advanced degree.

• However, sex workers who hold marginalized identities are uniquely vulnerable to racism, transphobia, xenophobia, classism, & other forms of structural violence.

Harm Reduction Interventions for Sex Workers

• Drop-In Center

• Community Organizing

• Policy Change

• Intra-Community Skill Sharing

• Medical & Health Services

• Safer Drug Use & Overdose

Prevention Materials

• Street-Based Outreach

• Safer Sex Materials & Education

• Anonymous Testing Services

• Bad Date Sheet

• Offer Hand Sanitizer, Antiseptic Wipes, Mouthwash, Makeup Remover, & Towelettes

DO NOT ASSUME! Don’t try to “save” anyone from sex work.

Resources for Sex Workers

• St. James Infirmary: www.stjamesinfirmary.org

• Sex Worker Outreach Project: https://swopusa.org

• SWOP Behind Bars: www.swopbehindbars.org

• Sex Workers Project: www.sexworkersproject.org

What Your Non-Binary Friend Wants You to Know!

Hello! My name is L, yes, just L. My pronouns are they/them, & I am non-binary. What does that mean?

Great question! An individual who is non-binary, identifies with a gender outside of the gender binary. Basically, they don’t identify as male or female exclusively. (For example, I closely align to bigender, having both masculine & famine gender expressions).

You may ask why I mentioned my pronouns so early in this message.

Well, that’s because most non-binary individuals don’t align with specific gender pronouns. You may also see some write (he/they), (she/they), etc. Don’t worry! The vast majority of non-binary individuals are not going to yell or get upset because they were referred to with the incorrect pronoun (it happens, A LOT, especially online). Personally, I like to just bring the individual aside one on one & let them know politely how I prefer to be referred to.

If you’re curious, ask someone what pronouns they refer to themselves as, it’s a fairly common question (in circles that take it seriously). Take a bit of time to read up on non-binary & other gender expressions, we will have many people that may align with these expressions that we will be interacting with.

Let me end with this, there is a world of information out there related to this and many other topics. I ask that you research into it, ask questions, & speak up.

— L.Drinville

Advisor to the Board | Harm Reduction Circle

What Exactly is Consent? & why is everyone always saying consent is sexy?

Consent is a voluntary, sober, imaginative, enthusiastic, creative, wanted, informed, mutual, honest, & verbal agreement between sexual partners. Consent is an active agreement & cannot be coerced. Consent is a process, which must be agreed upon for every sexual act; if you want to move to the next level of sexual intimacy - just ask! Consent is never implied & cannot be assumed, even in the context of an ongoing relationship. Just because you are in a relationship does not mean that you have permission to have sex with your partner. A person who is intoxicated cannot legally give consent. The absence of a "no" doesn't mean "yes". Both partners should be involved in the decision to have sex. Consent is an important part of healthy sexuality. It is not sexy to have sex without consent!

What is Gender?

According to the World Health Organization gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics which define gender. It should be noted that gender is completely different from biological sex. Definitions surrounding gender are further injuncted by dominant social and cultural norms which determine what it means to be “male” or “female”. These characteristics are shaped by mainstream culture & society & begin at birth. When individuals or groups do not “fit” established gender norms they often face stigma, discriminatory practices or social exclusion — all of which adversely affect health. For these reasons, it is important to acknowledge different identities that do not necessarily not into binary male or female sex categories.

How to Be an Ally for Transgender People?

A major component to being an effective ally for the Transgender community is to ask what gender pronouns the people you share space with use at present. Gender identity is a fluid construct & can change, so be sure to do this often when meeting & working with new people. Gender pronouns can include but are not limited too, “he” & “she” & gender neutral pronouns such as “they”, “them” & “their”.

If you’re not sure which pronouns to use: just ask!

For example, you could ask a transwoman what pronouns they use, & they could respond by saying I use pronouns such as “she” & “her”.

Top 5 Trans* Ally Principles

AFFIRM the people in your life by using their correct name & pronouns. It is important to use their correct name & pronouns whether they are around or not & when referring to them in the past, present, or future. It is a powerful indicator that you believe they are who they say they are. Introducing yourself to new people with your name & pronouns can also help remind others that we should never assume we know how someone wants to be identified.

APOLOGIZE but don’t dwell when you make a mistake with names, gender, or pronouns. Always correct yourself when you make a mistake with someone’s name or pronoun. Apologizing briefly in the moment is important, but dwelling on the moment & over-apologizing makes the moment about you instead of it being centered on the trans individual & your apology.

ENGAGE with trans people about their identity. If someone has shared their trans identity with you, you can talk with them about it. Identities & experiences aren’t to be treated like pink elephants in the room. Being unwilling to engage with someone around their experience / identity can send a message that their identity isn’t something that should be talked about. Asking & engaging with respectful questions from a place of genuine curiosity about their experience can bring you closer together & form deeper connections.

RESPECT privacy & steer clear of body-centric questions. A trans person has a right to privacy around their body just like the rest of us do, so steer clear of questions about surgery, body history, genitalia, etc. The focus on & preoccupation with bodies as a way of validating (or invalidating) a trans person’s experience/identity is a source of discrimination, harm, & bias against trans people.

VOLUNTEER to educate others about ways we all can continue to grow as trans allies. We all need each other when it comes to being an active trans ally. Holding each other accountable when we mess up names / pronouns / gender is an important & essential action. Volunteer to educate others. Put yourself out there as an ally & as a fellow learner & help create more safe, affirming, & inclusive environments around you.

Quick Tips When Interacting with Trans Individuals

One: Don’t ask what someone’s “real name” is. The name they use now is their real name & that is all you need to know. Asking for their previous name is an invasion of privacy.

Two: Try to identify when you are using gender as a means of categorization (ex. welcome ladies & gentlemen) when you could use another term or group identity (ex. welcome parents, families, and friends) .

Three: Some questions are better to Google. If you’re asking out of care for that person, ask away! (ex. How are things going in your office now that you’ve transitioned?) If you’re asking for personal curiosity better to Google (ex. What kind of surgeries would a person have if they are transitioning from female to male?) .

Four: Don’t out someone as trans in any way. It is important to always allow someone the ability to discern & decide who to come out to & when. It is not your place! This is a matter of privacy, respect & personal safety.

Five: Explore & get to understand your cisgender privilege & take time to consider the ways that you’ve never thought about it before.

Six: Get comfy with the specificity of language. Embrace the word trans & then use it appropriately. “Do you have a lot of other trans professionals you’re connected to?” vs. “Are there are lot of others like you that you know?”

Queer: Within the LGBTQ+ community, the definition of Queer can mean different things depending on who you ask. For some Queer is defined as a political movement or statement; a reclamation against the backlash of homophobic & discriminatory ideologies, which used the term as a derogatory slur against LGBTQ+ people. For others, the definition of Queer can be used to dismantle limited ways of “binary” thinking, to understand that sexual orientation & gender identities can be seen as “potentially fluid” & interchanging. Queer identity can be coined as an “umbrella term,” used to describe various identities within the LGBTQ+ community.

Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity &/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.

Transman: A person who identifies as male, whose gender identity does not align with their assigned biological sex.

Transwoman: A person who identifies as female, whose gender identity does not align with their assigned biological sex.

Non-Binary: An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man & a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While they may also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS IN THE USA TODAY?

There are an estimated 553,742 people in the United States experiencing homelessness on a given night, according to the most recent national point-in-time estimate (January 2017).

WHY ARE PEOPLE HOMELESS?

Housing: Lack of affordable housing & the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis & to homelessness. Recently, foreclosures have also increased the number of people who experience homelessness.

Poverty: Homelessness & poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, & education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. If you are poor, you are essentially an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.

Lack of Employment Opportunities: With unemployment rates remaining high, jobs are hard to find in the current economy. Even if people can find work, this does not automatically provide an escape from poverty.

Decline in Available Public Assistance: The declining value & availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness & many families leaving welfare struggle to get medical care, food, & housing as a result of loss of benefits, low wages, & unstable employment. Additionally, most states have not replaced the old welfare system with an alternative that enables families & individuals to obtain above-poverty employment & to sustain themselves when work is not available or possible.

Lack of Affordable Health Care: For families & individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, & eventual eviction.

Domestic Violence: Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships & homelessness. In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness.

Mental Illness: Approximately 16% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe & persistent mental illness.

Addiction: The relationship between addiction & homelessness is complex & controversial. Many people who are addicted to alcohol & drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor & addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness.

THEEE TYPES OF HOMELESSNESS

1. CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS: Persons most like the stereotyped profile of the “skid-row” homeless, who are likely to be entrenched in the shelter system & for whom shelters are more like long-term housing rather than an emergency arrangement. These individuals are likely to be older, & consist of the “hard-core unemployed”, often suffering from disabilities & substance abuse problems. Yet such persons represent a far smaller proportion of the population compared to the transitionally homeless.

2. TRANSITIONAL HOMELESSNESS: Transitionally homeless individuals generally enter the shelter system for only one stay and for a short period. Such persons are likely to be younger, are probably recent members of the precariously housed population & have become homeless because of some catastrophic event, & have been forced to spend a short time in a homeless shelter before making a transition into more stable housing. Over time, transitionally homeless individuals will account for the majority of persons experiencing homelessness given their higher rate of turnover.

3. EPISODIC HOMELESSNESS: Those who frequently shuttle in & out of homelessness are known as episodically homeless. They are most likely to be young, but unlike those in transitional homelessness, episodically homeless individuals often are chronically unemployed & experience medical, mental health, & substance abuse problems.

How Do People Use Tobacco

People can smoke, chew, or sniff tobacco. Smoked tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, bidis, & kreteks. Some people also smoke loose tobacco in a pipe or hookah (water pipe). Chewed tobacco products include chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, & snus; snuff can also be sniffed.

How Does Tobacco Affect the Brain

The nicotine in any tobacco product readily absorbs into the blood when a person uses it. Upon entering the blood, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system & increases blood pressure, breathing, & heart rate. As with drugs such as cocaine & heroin, nicotine activates the brain’s reward circuits & also increases levels of the chemical messenger dopamine, which reinforces rewarding behaviors. Studies suggest that other chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as acetaldehyde, may enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain.

What Are the Other Affects of Tobacco Use

Although nicotine is addictive, most of the severe health effects of tobacco use comes from other chemicals. Tobacco smoking can lead to lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, & emphysema. It increases the risk of heart disease, which can lead to stroke or heart attack. Smoking has also been linked to other cancers, leukemia, cataracts, Type 2 Diabetes, & pneumonia. All of these risks apply to use of any smoked product, including hookah tobacco. Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of cancer, especially mouth cancers.

Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of miscarriage, stillborn or premature infants, or infants with low birth weight. Smoking while pregnant may also be associated with learning & behavioral problems in exposed children.

People who stand or sit near others who smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke, either coming from the burning end of the tobacco product or exhaled by the person who is smoking. Secondhand smoke exposure can also lead to lung cancer & heart disease. It can cause health problems in both adults & children, such as coughing, phlegm, reduced lung function, pneumonia, & bronchitis. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of ear infections, severe asthma, lung infections, & death from sudden infant death syndrome.

How Does Tobacco Lead to Addiction

For many who use tobacco, brain changes brought on by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction. When a person tries to quit, he or she may have withdrawal symptoms, including:

▪️ irritability

▪️ problems paying attention

▪️ trouble sleeping

▪️ increased appetite

▪️ powerful cravings for tobacco

How Can People Get Treatment for Nicotine Addiction

Both behavioral treatments & medications can help people quit smoking, but the combination of medication with counseling is more effective than either alone.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has established a national toll-free quit line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW to serve as an access point for anyone seeking information & help in quitting smoking.

What’s Going On With Underage Nicotine Use

The tobacco industry hooks kids on vaping by using fun flavors that spark curiosity & make tobacco taste good. That puts teens at risk for a lifetime of nicotine addiction, health problems, & permanent brain changes.

Here’s What We Know

• In the last 2 years, vaping increased by 218% among middle schoolers & 135% among high schoolers.

• 96% of high school kids in CA who vape use flavors.

• Teens are nearly 7x more likely to vape nicotine than adults.

• Marijuana vaping among youth increased by 58% in a single year.

• Teens who vape are 3x more likely than non-vapers to become daily cigarette smokers.

• The average age of youth & young adults who try smokeless tobacco, like chew or snus, for the first time is 16.

The Signs of Vaping

• Are there sweet, fruity, or menthol smells coming from behind closed doors?

• Are there flash drives or other school supplies you don’t recognize in your kid’s backpack or room?

• How about small vials or eye dropper bottles?

• Have you come across unfamiliar chargers, coils, or batteries?

• Is your teen spending more money than usual or making unexplained purchases?

• Have there been changes in your kid’s behavior such as increased mood swings, irritability, anxiety, impulsivity, or learning difficulties?

• Is your teen suffering from more frequent headaches or nausea?

How Can People Get Treatment for Nicotine Addiction

Both behavioral treatments & medications can help people quit smoking, but the combination of medication with counseling is more effective than either alone.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has established a national toll-free quit line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW to serve as an access point for anyone seeking information & help in quitting smoking.

The NoVape chat line connects your kid (or you) to a trained counselor. Text "NoVapes" to 66819 or call 1-844-8-NO-VAPE / 1-844-866-8273.

2018 Study on Healthcare Access

One study found that financial burdens of care, logistical difficulties in accessing care, & low social support were common challenges among individuals using illicit drugs &/or drinking hazardously.

The results said that among 1403 illicit drug users who admitted to using illicit drugs within the past 6 months & 4984 non-drug users, over 25% reported difficulties in covering medical costs & finding transportation to health care facilities. In multivariable models both independently experienced issues associated with having greater barriers to care.

In conclusion, addressing structural barriers & strengthening social support may be important strategies to improve health care among marginalized populations.

Do Needle Exchange Program Help or Hurt?

Needle exchange programs & safe injection sites are attempts to reduce harm, giving addicts safer options for using. The thought behind these programs is that an addict will inject regardless of whether or not their needle is clean, or the environment is safe, putting themselves at risk of blood-borne diseases like HIV & Hepatitis C. So, are safety programs for addicts helping to save lives or aggravating an addiction?

What Are the Benefits of Needle Exchange Programs?

The consensus is that needle exchange programs & safe injection sites are safer for addicts, but they do not exacerbate a person’s addiction. When addiction is in control, a person will inject drugs regardless of the safety of the needle or their surroundings. These programs offer addicts a safer alternative, where they won’t put their lives in danger. Needle exchange programs & safe injection sites help deter overdoses & blood-borne illnesses & they also:

• Provide Narcan to prevent deadly overdose.

• Connect addicts with addiction treatment centers.

• Allow for safe disposal of used needles to reduce threats to communities.

• Offer screening for HIV/AIDS & other illnesses.

• Provide education about programs at a nearby detox center.

Needle exchange programs can diminish these & many other drug use dangers. In fact, syringe exchange programs reduce drug use & people who inject drugs are 5x more likely to enter a drug addiction treatment program than those who use outside of these exchange programs.

What is a Supervised Consumption Service?

Supervised consumption services (SCS) are provided in legally sanctioned facilities that allow people to consume pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of trained staff & are designed to reduce the health & public order issues often associated with public drug consumption. They are also called overdose prevention centers, safe or supervised injection facilities (SIFs), & drug consumption rooms (DCRs).

Facility staff members do not directly assist in consumption or handle any drugs brought in by clients, but are present to provide sterile injection supplies, answer questions on safe injection practices, administer first aid if needed, & monitor for overdose. This is particularly pertinent to Fentanyl because the onset of overdose is rapid & waiting for an ambulance may mean death or permanent brain damage due to lack of oxygen. SCS staff also offer general medical advice & referrals to drug treatment, medical treatment, & other social support programs.

There are approximately 120 SCS currently operating in ten countries around the world (Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain & Switzerland).

In July 2021, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to authorize a two-year pilot program to establish "harm reduction centers" where people can consume pre-obtained substances under the supervision of trained staff. We hope other states will follow Rhode Island’s example. SCSs can play a vital role as part of a larger public health approach to drug policy. They are intended to complement – not replace – existing prevention, harm reduction, & treatment interventions.

Benefits of SCS

Over 100 evidence-based, peer-reviewed studies have consistently proven the positive impacts of supervised consumption services, including:

• Increasing entry into substance use disorder treatment.

• Reducing the amount & frequency that clients use drugs.

• Reducing public disorder & public injecting while increasing public safety

• Reducing HIV & Hepatitis C risk behavior (i.e. syringe sharing, unsafe sex).

• Successfully managing frequent on-site overdoses & reducing drug-related overdose death rates (there has not been a single overdose fatality at any SCS worldwide).

• Saving costs due to a reduction in disease, overdose deaths, & need for emergency medical services.

• Increasing the delivery of medical & social services.

Barriers to SCS in the U.S.

No SCS currently exist in the United States due to a host of legal & ideological barriers. SCS arguably violate various state & federal drug laws, including laws that make it illegal to use, open, or maintain property where any controlled substance is consumed.

What is an Intervention?

An intervention involves interceding in the life or behavior of a person, in the hopes of changing their behavior or the outcome of the situation at hand. Interventions often happen when an addict’s loved ones see their life spiraling out of control, want to do something to help them, & want to end their own enabling behavior.

During an intervention a group of people come together & confront the person addicted to drugs or alcohol. They work to persuade them to make changes in their life. In most cases they encourage the person to seek help from a professional or a rehab center to deal with their substance abuse.

When is an Intervention Necessary?

An intervention is necessary when it’s clear that a loved one desperately needs help, either their drug habit is causing physical damage to themselves or others, when they’re losing work over their drug habit or have already lost employment as a result of drug use, when it’s clear they can’t stop or can’t stay sober for longer than a few days, when it’s apparent that they aren’t going to try & get professional help on their own, or when they deny that they have a problem at all. Other signs are when they continue to lie & try to argue that their problem is not that bad or cover up their habits, when they’re experiencing severe financial pressure as a result of an expensive drug habit, or when they’re beginning to engage in immoral or criminal activity to try & support their habit.

How to Stage an Intervention

Step 1: Form the intervention team. This is the core group of organizers, & it may or may not include a professional interventionist. Generally, only close family members, friends, & possibly coworkers should be included on the intervention team. If a person is currently struggling with their own substance abuse issues, they should not be included on the team.

Step 2: Make a plan. This includes scheduling a specific day, time of day, location, & guest list. It also includes an outline of how the process will work & what everyone will say.

Step 3: Gather information. Learn about the substance of abuse, addiction, & the recovery process. Gather information about detox & rehabilitation programs their insurance accepts.

Step 4: Write impact statements. These should be personal statements, detailing how the addiction has harmed the person they love. These statements should be emotionally honest & focus on love. There is no place for personal attacks in these statements.

Step 5: Offer help. People attending the intervention should be willing to support their loved one in some capacity while the person goes through detox, rehabilitation, & long-term recovery.

Step 6: Set boundaries. If the person refuses treatment, relationships with friends & family must change. Everyone present should commit to ending codependency & enabling behaviors.

Step 7: Rehearse. Emotions run high regarding substance abuse & addiction. To avoid taking too much time, blaming the loved one, or falling into self-pity.

Step 8: Manage expectations. While television nearly always shows the person at the center of the intervention accepting help, this is not always the case in real life. The individual may not accept help for a variety of reasons. If they do not, then follow through on the outlined consequences.

Step 9: Follow up. Whether the person accepts help or not, it is important to uphold statements made during the intervention. Otherwise, the person may experience excessive stress, which could slow down their rehabilitation process, lead to relapse, or deepen substance abuse problems.

Things to Avoid During an Intervention

• Don’t choose family members, friends or loved ones who are overly emotional.

• Don’t stage an intervention when the focus of it is likely to be intoxicated. You’ll want to schedule an intervention when he or she is sober — or as close to sober as possible.

• Don’t hold an intervention at home. It’s too easy for the subject to retreat to a bedroom or bathroom & end the conversation prematurely.

• Don’t go into an intervention without some sort of plan.

• Don’t use your allotted time to impose guilt. No one feels worse about their actions, decisions & choices than the addict or alcoholic. To berate or belittle them isn’t the point of the intervention; the goal is to get them to agree to seek treatment.

• Don’t negotiate. The only response you want from the addict or alcoholic is a “yes” or a “no.”

• Don’t panic if things don’t go according to plan. They seldom do; addicts & alcoholics often react in unpredictable ways when forced to confront the realities of their drinking and using. They may leave the room, provoke an argument, breaking down sobbing or lash out in ways that seem purposefully hurtful. Stay on task, however: getting that “yes” or “no.”

Treatment & Recovery Resources - USA

https://www.freerehabcenters.org/

24/7 Hotline: 1-800-780-2294

What is Decriminalization?

Drug decriminalization would eliminate criminal penalties for:

• Drug use & possession

• Possession of equipment used to introduce drugs into the human body, such as syringes

• Low-level drug sales

How is Criminalization Harmful?

There are serious consequences for drug use in nearly every sector of civil life — education, employment, housing, child welfare, immigration, & public benefits. Punishment is not limited to the criminal legal system. Instead, it is the default reaction to drug use wherever it shows up, impacting our lives in profound but largely unrecognized ways. We must shine a spotlight on the insidious ways the drug war has spread into all our systems.

What are the Benefits of Decriminalization?

Removing criminal penalties for drug possession & low-level sales would:

• Save money by reducing prison & especially jail costs &population size.

• Free up law enforcement resources to be used in more appropriate ways.

• Prioritize health & safety over punishment for people who use drugs.

• Reduce the stigma associated with drug use so that problematic drug users are encouraged to come out of the shadows & seek treatment & other support.

• Remove barriers to evidence-based harm reduction practices such as drug checking, heroin-assisted treatment, & medical marijuana.

What Can YOU Do to Help?

Calling Your Federal Legislators. Members of Congress' offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you call, ask to be connected to the office of your legislator.

Be aware of timing. The most effective time to place a call to your Member of Congress is close to a vote or committee hearing. It is not required that you write a letter or have made an attempt to contact your member prior to a phone call, but it is helpful. If you have written or visited with your legislator in the past remind them or their staff.

Think carefully about the reason for your call before you pick up the phone. The goal is to clearly state what action you want your legislator to take. The call will be brief, so you want to know exactly what you're asking the legislator to do so you can get right to the point.

Identify yourself, make sure they understand that you are a concerned voter & tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, for example: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S./H.R.).”

Ask to speak with the aide who handles your issue. If you want to do more than leave a simple message, you want to make sure you're talking to the person who works on the issue. Usually, a staff member, not the Member of Congress, will take your telephone calls. Make clear your position & the action you think your member should take. Feel free to ask questions & share information about your issue, but be concise & considerate.

For More Ways YOU Can Help Visit the Website Below:

https://drugpolicy.org/take-action/contact-your-elected-officials

What is Defelonization?

Defelonization means that drug law violations are reduced from felonies to misdemeanors. The 2014 defelonization victory in CA substantially reduced the number of people in prison & especially local jails. Those savings are now being reallocated to provide needed services. Defelonization can be a stepping-stone to decriminalization & provides a snapshot into the potential benefits of full decriminalization. However, defelonization does not go far enough. Misdemeanors still have criminalizing consequences, & full removal of criminal penalties – decriminalization – is needed for people experiencing problematic drug use to seek help without any fear of arrest.

Will Decriminalizing Drugs Increase Drug Dependency or Crime?

A common fear is that decriminalizing drugs would lead to more drug dependency & crime. There is no indication this is true. Data from the U.S. & around the world suggest that treating problematic drug use as a health issue, instead of a criminal one, is a more successful model for keeping communities healthy & safe.

What Can YOU Do to Help?

Calling Your Federal Legislators. Members of Congress' offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you call, ask to be connected to the office of your legislator.

Be aware of timing. The most effective time to place a call to your Member of Congress is close to a vote or committee hearing. It is not required that you write a letter or have made an attempt to contact your member prior to a phone call, but it is helpful. If you have written or visited with your legislator in the past remind them or their staff.

Think carefully about the reason for your call before you pick up the phone. The goal is to clearly state what action you want your legislator to take. The call will be brief, so you want to know exactly what you're asking the legislator to do so you can get right to the point.

Identify yourself, make sure they understand that you are a concerned voter & tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, for example: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S./H.R.).”

Ask to speak with the aide who handles your issue. If you want to do more than leave a simple message, you want to make sure you're talking to the person who works on the issue. Usually, a staff member, not the Member of Congress, will take your telephone calls. Make clear your position & the action you think your member should take. Feel free to ask questions & share information about your issue, but be concise & considerate.

For More Ways YOU Can Help Visit the Website Below:

https://drugpolicy.org/take-action/contact-your-elected-officials

History of War on Drugs

The drug war goes far beyond arrests & incarceration. Its roots are deeply embedded in almost every aspect of daily life – from education, housing, & employment, to child welfare, immigration, & public benefits. We must fully extract the drug war & its culture of criminalization from our lives.

The Early Stages of Drug Prohibition

Many currently illegal drugs, such as marijuana, opium, coca, & psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for both medical & spiritual purposes. So why are some drugs legal & other drugs illegal today? It's not based on any scientific assessment of the relative risks of these drugs – but it has everything to do with who is associated with these drugs.

The first anti-opium laws in the 1870s were directed at Chinese immigrants. The first anti-cocaine laws in the early 1900s were directed at black men in the South. The first anti-marijuana laws, in the Midwest & the Southwest in the 1910s & 20s, were directed at Mexican migrants & Mexican Americans. Today, Latino & especially black communities are still subject to wildly disproportionate drug enforcement & sentencing practices.

Nixon and the Generation Gap

In the 1960s, as drugs became symbols of youthful rebellion, social upheaval, & political dissent, the government halted scientific research to evaluate their medical safety & efficacy.

In June 1971, President Nixon declared a “war on drugs.” He dramatically increased the size & presence of federal drug control agencies, & pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing & no-knock warrants.

A top Nixon aide, John Ehrlichman, later admitted: “You want to know what this was really all about. The Nixon campaign in 1968, & the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left & black people. You understand what I’m saying. We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana & blacks with heroin, & then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, & vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” Nixon temporarily placed marijuana in Schedule One, the most restrictive category of drugs, pending review by a commission he appointed led by Republican Pennsylvania Governor Raymond Shafer.

In 1972, the commission unanimously recommended decriminalizing the possession & distribution of marijuana for personal use. Nixon ignored the report & rejected its recommendations.

Between 1973 & 1977, however, eleven states decriminalized marijuana possession. In January 1977, President Jimmy Carter was inaugurated on a campaign platform that included marijuana decriminalization. In October 1977, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use.

Within just a few years, though, the tide had shifted. Proposals to decriminalize marijuana were abandoned as parents became increasingly concerned about high rates of teen marijuana use. Marijuana was ultimately caught up in a broader cultural backlash against the perceived permissiveness of the 1970s.

The 1980s & 90s: Drug Hysteria & Skyrocketing Incarceration Rates

The presidency of Ronald Reagan marked the start of a long period of skyrocketing rates of incarceration, largely thanks to his unprecedented expansion of the drug war. The number of people behind bars for nonviolent drug law offenses increased from 50,000 in 1980 to over 400,000 by 1997.

Public concern about illicit drug use built throughout the 1980s, largely due to media portrayals of people addicted to the smokable form of cocaine dubbed “crack.” Soon after Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, his wife, Nancy Reagan, began a highly-publicized anti-drug campaign, coining the slogan "Just Say No."

This set the stage for the zero tolerance policies implemented in the mid-to-late 1980s. Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates, who believed that “casual drug users should be taken out & shot,” founded the DARE drug education program, which was quickly adopted nationwide despite the lack of evidence of its effectiveness. The increasingly harsh drug policies also blocked the expansion of syringe access programs and other harm reduction policies to reduce the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS.

In the late 1980s, a political hysteria about drugs led to the passage of draconian penalties in Congress & state legislatures that rapidly increased the prison population. In 1985, the proportion of Americans polled who saw drug abuse as the nation's "number one problem" was just 2-6%. The figure grew through the remainder of the 1980s until, in September 1989, it reached a remarkable 64% – one of the most intense fixations by the American public on any issue in polling history. Within less than a year, however, the figure plummeted to less than 10%, as the media lost interest. The draconian policies enacted during the hysteria remained, however, & continued to result in escalating levels of arrests & incarceration.

Although Bill Clinton advocated for treatment instead of incarceration during his 1992 presidential campaign, after his first few months in the White House he reverted to the drug war strategies of his Republican predecessors by continuing to escalate the drug war. Notoriously, Clinton rejected a U.S. Sentencing Commission recommendation to eliminate the disparity between crack & powder cocaine sentences.

He also rejected, with the encouragement of drug czar General Barry McCaffrey, Health Secretary Donna Shalala’s advice to end the federal ban on funding for syringe access programs. Yet, a month before leaving office, Clinton asserted in a Rolling Stone interview that "we really need a re-examination of our entire policy on imprisonment" of people who use drugs, & said that marijuana use "should be decriminalized."

At the height of the drug war hysteria in the late 1980s & early 1990s, a movement emerged seeking a new approach to drug policy. In 1987, Arnold Trebach & Kevin Zeese founded the Drug Policy Foundation – describing it as the “loyal opposition to the war on drugs.” Prominent conservatives such as William Buckley & Milton Friedman had long advocated for ending drug prohibition, as had civil libertarians such as longtime ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser. In the late 1980s they were joined by Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Federal Judge Robert Sweet, Princeton professor Ethan Nadelmann, & other activists, scholars & policymakers.

In 1994, Nadelmann founded The Lindesmith Center as the first U.S. project of George Soros’ Open Society Institute. In 2000, the growing Center merged with the Drug Policy Foundation to create the Drug Policy Alliance.

The New Millennium: The Pendulum Shifts – Slowly – Toward Sensible Drug Policy

George W. Bush arrived in the White House as the drug war was running out of steam – yet he allocated more money than ever to it. His drug czar, John Walters, zealously focused on marijuana & launched a major campaign to promote student drug testing. While rates of illicit drug use remained constant, overdose fatalities rose rapidly.

The era of George W. Bush also witnessed the rapid escalation of the militarization of domestic drug law enforcement. By the end of Bush's term, there were about 40,000 paramilitary-style SWAT raids on Americans every year – mostly for nonviolent drug law offenses, often misdemeanors. While federal reform mostly stalled under Bush, state-level reforms finally began to slow the growth of the drug war.

Politicians now routinely admit to having used marijuana, & even cocaine, when they were younger. When Michael Bloomberg was questioned during his 2001 mayoral campaign about whether he had ever used marijuana, he said, "You bet I did – & I enjoyed it." Barack Obama also candidly discussed his prior cocaine & marijuana use: "When I was a kid, I inhaled frequently – that was the point." Public opinion has shifted dramatically in favor of sensible reforms that expand health-based approaches while reducing the role of criminalization in drug policy.

Marijuana reform has gained unprecedented momentum throughout the Americas. Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, & the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for adults. In December 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legally regulate marijuana. Canada legalized marijuana for adults in 2018.

In response to a worsening overdose epidemic, dozens of U.S. states passed laws to increase access to the overdose antidote, naloxone, as well as “911 Good Samaritan” laws to encourage people to seek medical help in the event of an overdose.

Yet the assault on American citizens & others continues, with 700,000 people still arrested for marijuana offenses each year & almost 500,000 people still behind bars for nothing more than a drug law violation.

President Obama, despite supporting several successful policy changes – such as reducing the crack/powder sentencing disparity, ending the ban on federal funding for syringe access programs, & ending federal interference with state medical marijuana laws – did not shift the majority of drug policy funding to a health-based approach.

Trump Era: DPA Pushes Forward Despite Challenges

The Trump administration threatened to take us backward toward a 1980s-style drug war. President Trump started building a wall to keep drugs out of the country, & called for harsher sentences for drug law violations & the death penalty for people who sell drugs. He also resurrected disproven “just say no” messaging aimed at youth.

2020 brought the additional challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic – a public health crisis that exposed the systemic issues within our society & revealed just how deeply the drug war permeates these systems. People who interact with these systems are unable to take the most basic of steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – including those in jail or prison, the homeless, people with substance use disorder, those who rely on access to medication-assisted treatment or medical marijuana, & immigrants. During this crisis, it is harder for them to engage in social distancing, and to access necessary medication assisted treatment – such as methadone or buprenorphine, or medical marijuana – as well as other health & harm reduction resources.

Despite these obstacles, we at the Drug Policy Alliance pushed forward with monumental drug policy reforms in the 2020 elections. In a historic, paradigm-shifting win & arguably the biggest blow to the war on drugs to date, Oregon voters passed Measure 110, the nation’s first all-drug decriminalization measure. This confirms a substantial shift in public support in favor of treating drug use with health services rather than with criminalization.

New Administration, New Opportunities

Now Joe Biden is President of the United States – and with every new administration brings new opportunities. Biden has stated that it was a “mistake” to support legislation that ramped up the drug war & increased incarceration, including the '94 crime bill, when he was in the U.S. Senate. He now says we need a compassionate approach to problematic drug use.

What Can YOU Do to Help?

Calling Your Federal Legislators! Members of Congress' offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you call, ask to be connected to the office of your legislator.

Be aware of timing. The most effective time to place a call to your Member of Congress is close to a vote or committee hearing. It is not required that you write a letter or have made an attempt to contact your member prior to a phone call, but it is helpful. If you have written or visited with your legislator in the past remind them or their staff.

Think carefully about the reason for your call before you pick up the phone. The goal is to clearly state what action you want your legislator to take. The call will be brief, so you want to know exactly what you're asking the legislator to do so you can get right to the point.

Identify yourself, make sure they understand that you are a concerned voter & tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, for example: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S./H.R.).

Ask to speak with the aide who handles your issue. If you want to do more than leave a simple message, you want to make sure you're talking to the person who works on the issue. Usually, a staff member, not the Member of Congress, will take your telephone calls. Make clear your position & the action you think your member should take. Feel free to ask questions & share information about your issue, but be concise & considerate.

For More Ways YOU Can Help Visit the Website Below:

https://drugpolicy.org/take-action/contact-your-elected-officials

What is the RAVE Act?

The Reducing American’s Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act, or the RAVE Act, was first introduced by Senator Joseph Biden in 2002. Renamed the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, it was passed by Congress the following year.

The RAVE Act expanded earlier “crack house” laws to include commercial venues, allowing business owners to be prosecuted if they “maintain a drug-involved premises.”

When originally passed, the Act gave law enforcement officials greater power to shut down underground dance parties when promoters were knowingly & intentionally encouraging the use of illicit drugs. However, its current language has created a more dangerous situation today by discouraging legitimate EDM concert & festival organizers from enacting common sense safety measures to protect their patrons. Providing free water & air-conditioned rooms, & allowing drug education & other harm reduction services inside their events would save lives. Yet many event organizers are afraid that these actions could be seen as encouraging drug use & therefore subject them to criminal prosecution under the RAVE Act.

What Can YOU Do to Help?

We will include a link below to a website called Amend the Rave Act which was made by DeDe Goldsmith after the death of her Shelley in 2013. Shelley died from heatstroke at an EDM event where no Harm Reduction services were available — because of the RAVE Act.

Using the link below you’ll be redirected to her site where you simply fill out your contact information & an email will be auto-populated & sent on your behalf to your local congressman. Below is a copy of the email that will be sent on your behalf. Below that is the link.

Dear Members of Congress,

I urge you to enact legislation to amend the 2003 Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (aka the RAVE Act) to ensure that music venue owners and event organizers can implement common sense safety measures to protect their patrons and reduce the risk of medical emergencies, including those associated with drug use, without fear of prosecution by federal authorities. As the law currently stands, many owners and organizers are reluctant to institute such measures, fearing they may be accused of “maintaining a drug involved premises” under the Act, and thus opening themselves to criminal or civil prosecution. Clarifying the original intent of the Act will ensure that the Act can no longer be misinterpreted in ways that jeopardize public safety.

Respectfully,

(your signature)

Send an Email Your Local Congressman

https://amendtheraveact.org/sign-the-petition/

The concept of stigma describes the powerful, negative perceptions commonly associated with substance abuse & addiction. Stigma has the potential to negatively affect a person's self-esteem, damage relationships with loved ones, & prevent those suffering from addiction from accessing treatment.

Language in Relation to Stigma Surrounding Substance Use

When a person feels alienated from their community, this greatly reduces self esteem & self worth. Eventually a person feels that they have no options or control over their own life because they are constantly shamed for their behavior(s). This feeling of shame can further manifest as stigma. Stigma can occur when a person’s worldview is not considered “socially acceptable” within society; which can further lead to a sense of helplessness & disempowerment.

Stigma & Oppression

Stigma can be used as a tool of oppression used to take people’s power away. People who use certain substances experience consistent oppression due to many interrelated parts of their identities. In order to dismantle stigma, especially for marginalized people, we must create a healthy relational climate within our communities so that people who are impacted by drug use can feel safe coming to us for supports/services.

Oppression is the use of power to consciously or unconsciously disempower, marginalize, silence & harm another social group that has been given less power in society, or has had power actively taken away from them to benefit the social group that is the oppressor (Anti-Oppression Network).

• Fentanyl is an opioid that can be from 50x to 100x stronger than Morphine.

• It takes an EXTREMELY low dose of Fentanyl to be fatal!

• If your drugs were mixed on the same scale or table as Fentanyl you could be at risk (cross-contamination).

• Fentanyl is highly addictive. People become dependent on it in a short time.

• Fentanyl is being mixed in with other drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines (speed), MDMA, oxycontin, heroin, and other powder substances or sometimes it is sold as these drugs.

• Fentanyl doesn’t have uniform concentration - every dose could be a different strength.

• There are many types of illicit fentanyl with varying strengths. Carfentanyl is an elephant tranquilizer that is 10,000x stronger than Morphine.

How Much Fentanyl Does It REALLY Take to Overdose?

For someone without any tolerance to opioids, it takes just a small amount. Approximately 1/8th of a grain of rice.

Drug tolerance is a pharmacological concept describing subjects' reduced reaction to a drug following its repeated use. Increasing its dosage may re-amplify the drug's effects; however, this may accelerate tolerance, further reducing the drug's effects.

One thing to understand about tolerance is it not just about how much of a substance is needed to physically feel the effects of a drug, but tolerance also refers to how much the body can withstand without going into overdose. This is why users who consume drugs regularly, such as opioids like Fentanyl are capable of consuming larger amounts & survive; meanwhile someone without a tolerance can be exposed to such a small amount that ends up being fatal.

Narcan Nasal Spray (also called Naloxone) is an antidote used exclusively to reverse the effects of an opioid-related overdose. When properly administered to someone experiencing an opioid-related overdose it blocks the opioid receptors in the brain which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose — typically showing results in just 2-3 minutes after being administered. Download our Comprehensive Narcan Guide by Clicking Here.

Narcan is the brand name of the generic drug naloxone. Naloxone is a medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose, naloxone is the active ingredient in Narcan.

Trip Sitting is being able to support someone who’s actively experiencing a Bad Trip or some sort of Emotional Challenge.

Intro to Trip Sitting 101

The most important thing to remember when trip sitting is to be calm, non-judgmental, & always be a kind presence for the entirety of someone else’s journey.

Trip sitting is also referred to as “holding space". Holding space is just being with present somebody who's tripping on drugs & allowing them to go through whatever process they need to without really trying to interfere as long as they are medically stable. It’s really just being present for someone, listening or sitting with them in silence all without offering your opinion or any kind of advice (unless they ask). Trip sitting is referred to as co-piloting or being someone's spirit guide.

Determine Their Current Situation

When someone first approaches who may be in need of a trip sitter due to a bad trip, first & foremost you need to ensure they are medically stable & if they're just experiencing some sort of mental distress that we can assist with. If upon their initial arrival you determine they are not medically stable you must immediately seek help from medical professionals. Do not wait!

Either guide that guest to where they can receive medical attention or call 9-1-1 & wait with the person until proper help arrives. Once you make contact with medical professionals be sure to accurately relay any information you obtained to them.

Good Samaritan Laws

These laws grant civil immunity to anybody who administers Narcan to someone they reasonably suspect is overdosing on an opiate. Any person who seeks emergency or medical services for a person who is experiencing or suspected of experiencing a drug overdose in good faith will not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a drug violation if the evidence for the arrest, charge, or prosecution of the drug violation came from seeking such assistance.

Always research your local laws & regulations on Good Samaritan Laws.

Offer Water & Light Snacks

Once you’ve confirmed they are medically stable, start off by offering them ice cold water & encourage them to regularly take small sips. Next try offering them some light snacks like crackers, chips, fruit snacks, or something else that's not heavy on their stomach. If they refuse, that's alright. Kindly remind them every 15 minutes or so to occasionally take small sips of water.

Try to Obtain Their Basic Medical History When Possible

It’s also important to casually ask the person if their on any medications or have any chronic medical conditions. Health conditions like diabetes or a history of low blood pressure should definitely be considered. For example, offering things like some sugary snacks or drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade could be offered to someone that’s diabetic.

It’s also important to know if they have any history of depression or anxiety, & if they’re on any medications to treat it. For example, SSRI antidepressants will lessen the effects of Psilocybin even if the tripper skipped that day’s dose. If the person you’ll be sitting for explains a history of depression, anxiety, violent or dissociative behavior or outbursts, or even a more serious personality disorder diagnosis then you’re in more sensitive territory & you’ll definitely want to proceed with caution. In these cases it’s best to have someone with a lot of trip sitting experience with them or even refer them to a medical professional if at any point you feel they’re becoming either physically unstable or mentally unstable.

Other things to consider is if someone with a history of seizures & cardiovascular disease & has taken Psilocybin. These conditions can increase their risk of having a medical emergency, especially when combined with the stress or anxiety caused by having a bad trip.

Have a Backup Trip Sitter Available to Step In If Necessary

It may be necessary to have a backup trip sitter. While it’s not necessary to have two sitters for one tripping person, everyone has their own approach to handing trip sitting & each person tripping may receive what the trip sitter is saying differently. If the person experiencing a bad trip doesn’t seem to be receptive to you after a few minutes sometimes all you need is a backup sitter to come in with support & chime in with another perspective. Another situation where a backup sitter could come in handy is if you’re sitting for someone who is physically much larger than you, & they begin to act violently (breaking things or screaming). In this case, you may want to have a backup sitter on call who is large enough to help the guest work through these feelings.

While sitters have to be prepared for all types of emotions including anger & violent outbursts, trip sitters must not be hesitant to call emergency services as a last resort if something seriously dangerous goes down or they lose control of the situation. As a reminder if at any point you fear the person could potentially harm themselves or others you must immediately seek help from medical professionals.

Take Care Of Your Own Needs Too

While you are there for the person going on their journey, don’t completely ignore your own needs. It's just like what they say on airplanes, put on your own mask first before helping others. The person experiencing a bad trip will be able to sense when you’re uncomfortable & that could cause them to feel uncomfortable. So eat when you’re hungry & go to the bathroom when you have to because your mood can significantly affect their mood.

Trip-Sitting Essentials

Your main job as a trip sitter is to stay non-judgmental, calm, supportive, & present for someone. It may be you just listening or sitting with them in silence, all without judgement & without offering your opinion or any kind of advice (unless they specifically ask).

Try to empathize with them by discussing expectations, intentions, & any boundaries they may have with them. Ask them what they are seeing or experiencing. If the person is experiencing a bad trip they may be facing some challenging thoughts or memories. Reassure them tell them that you’ll be there to hold their hand & be a shoulder to cry on if they need. If their headspace remains negative try to shy away from discussing any fears or worries they might have unless they insist on guiding the conversation in that direction. If it’s clear that the current topic you’re discussing is causing them more mental distress, change the subject to something more lighthearted & positive.

Someone who’s taken drugs may be extra sensitive to their environment, including your mood, so remaining centered & smiling at them when you make eye contact definitely helps. Don’t act bored, annoyed, or upset (even if you are) because it can grossly affect their experience for the worse & cause them additional stress or anxiety.

It’s also important to remember that you are not there to guide their trip in any particular direction. We are not there to counsel or guide someone in a specific direction or to ask them pointed questions. We’re just there to keep everyone physically & emotionally safe & to be a support if someone needs it. Try to speak as little as possible & never try to insert yourself into someone’s experience. If someone wants to talk you could listen, smile, nod, put your arm around them, offer them a tissue if they’re tearing up, but don’t give advice (unless they specifically ask) or say anything too opinionated.

It’s also crucial never to be condescending or patronizing in any way to someone experiencing a bad trip. Don’t talk to someone who’s tripping like they’re a child or like they’re stupid because that can potentially send them into a more negative place. If they’re your close friend talk to them as you normally would, or perhaps even more sparingly.

Alone Time

It’s also common for trippers to want to be left alone & that’s totally fine. It absolutely doesn’t mean they don’t need you anymore because having someone around that’s sober & trained in trip sitting will still be a pillar of support. Instead, assure them it’s common to want some alone time but if that happens suggest they remain in the lounge area of the booth so you can periodically check in on them without disturbing them too much.

However, sometimes when someone who’s tripping are left alone they can go through some of their most difficult inner material. When you periodically check in on them you’ll need to be able to tell if they need some support by their breathing. If their chest is going up & down rapidly they’re probably struggling & it’s a good time to sit next to them & just hold their hand. You might not even have to say anything, but often a supportive, gentle touch can go a long way. People may not communicate their needs because they’re too far gone, so you can ask, or just offer them things like a blanket, a cold bottle water, coffee, a light snack or candy, some tissues, or just a hand to hold.

Help Them With Basic Tasks

People may also need help with things like going to the bathroom or getting up to walk around because their bodies feel so differently. Everyday things can be a struggle so if they need help with a specific activity offer to help them without them having to ask.

How to Help Someone Through a Challenging Trip

Likely, the most difficult thing you’ll encounter as a sitter is helping someone through an emotionally challenging experience. Someone who’s taken drugs can bring up distressing emotions, past traumas, unresolved guilt, or grief among a host of other tough & even otherworldly experiences. But resisting these inner struggles only makes a challenging trip more difficult. That’s why we recommend that trip sitters talk trippers through these challenging experiences rather than talking them down.

Once trippers relax & let all of their emotions flow, they’ll stop resisting the experience & likely find incredible insights, deep inner peace, or even transcendence on the other side. The best thing a trip sitter can do for a tripper going through a difficult experience is to just be there for them. Sit down next to them & only talk if they want to. Again, physical touch might help, so hold their hand or touch their shoulder they’re comfortable with that. Regularly offer an ice cold of water, a light snack or candy, or tissues if necessary. Make eye contact, smile, & act empathetic & understanding. Try not to act worried or concerned (even if you actually are).

Try Breathing Techniques for Relaxation

The best thing you can do for someone having a challenging trip or even a panic attack is to help them connect with their breathing. Take deep breaths with them & if they’re able to try doing some simple breath techniques.

Try recommending pranayama breathing technique which is inhaling for three seconds, holding for six seconds, & exhaling for nine seconds. Count for them gently & hold their hand if they feel comfortable.

You can even offer to meditate with them in silence.

Helping Someone Who's Confused & Disoriented

Sometimes a challenging experience looks more like a person being very confused. People can forget who & where they are or think they’re dying or going crazy. Trippers can also get paranoid & might project this onto their sitter, thinking you’re talking about them, conspiring against them, or that you even tried to poison them. The key is to remain calm & kind in all situations. If people are very confused, using their first name when you talk to them can really help. If they think they’re dying or going crazy, remind them that they took drugs & that the effects will begin to wear off soon, & of course, that you’re there for them no matter what happens.

How to Help Someone Who's Stuck in a Loop

Sometimes people on drugs get stuck in negative thought loops that are hard to get themselves out of or resolve. So if you notice this as a trip sitter you can try to introduce some distractions like beautiful, colorful, or sparkly things to look at together. You could try going for a little walk with them, or get up and move the body by shaking or dancing. The classic recommendations are to change the scenery, music, or lighting; these alterations can help change a tripper’s mood quickly. Do an activity together if they want, like making art or banging on a percussive instrument.

The best thing you can do is to remain calm, centered, chill, & friendly no matter how they react. Don’t get stressed or anxious or try to fix everything. Sometimes people just need to cry it out for a while, & it’s a very healing & cathartic experience for them. Don’t make a big deal of anything, even if they spill something on you, throw up, or wet their pants. Just remind them it’s all part of the experience & help them clean up while remaining positive.

Trip Sitting 101: List of Things to Do

• Remaining non-judgmental.

• Being supportive yet nondirective.

• Being soft-spoken & gentle.

• Smiling & making eye contact.

• Being understanding & kind.

• Being willing to talk but also being willing to listen.

• Helping handle their electronics & technical tasks for them if necessary.

• Regularly offering ice cold water.

• Taking small sips every 5 to 10 minutes.

• Regularly offering light snacks.

• Offering tissues & other distractions if you feel they’re needed.

• Being willing to call emergency services as a last resort.

Trip Sitting 101: List of Things to Avoid

• Being condescending, aggressive, annoyed, or stressed.

• Bring up negative, tough memories or emotional topics.

• Dismissing anything they say as worthless, stupid, immature, or “just the drugs talking.”

• Asking them if they’re feeling the effects of the drugs too, how they feel, or probe them about anything too often.

• Making a big deal if they have an accident, spill or break something, cry, talk too loudly, have a hard time, throw up, etc.

• Allowing them to take additional drugs until their positive mindset is fully restored.

• Ignoring them or leaving them before the trip concludes.

Final Important Reminders

Remember, training like this can help us offer caring & compassionate trip sitting to guests in need & we can offer other harm reduction services, but we are NOT medical professionals. If at any time it becomes clear they need medical attention or they become aggressive or violent to the point where you cannot quickly calm them down, or if at any point it becomes clear that the situation is beyond your control, you must immediately seek medical attention for that guest.

Don’t be afraid to call 9-1-1

Trip sitters must not be hesitant to call emergency services as a last resort if something seriously dangerous goes down or they lose control of the situation.

Additionally, if at any point you fear the person could potentially harm themselves or others you must immediately seek emergency medical services from professionals.

Don’t be afraid to call 9-1-1

These laws grant civil immunity to anybody who administers Narcan to someone they reasonably suspect is overdosing on an opiate. Any person who seeks emergency or medical services for a person who is experiencing or suspected of experiencing a drug overdose in good faith will not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a drug violation if the evidence for the arrest, charge, or prosecution of the drug violation came from seeking such assistance.

Always research your local laws & regulations on Good Samaritan Laws

What is Substance Testing (aka Drug Checking)

“Drug checking is front line work. We need to take the lab out of the Lab. Make spaces that are inviting, comfortable & destigmatizing for people who use drugs. It is about building a relationship with people who are at risk of harms associated with using drugs.”

-ANKORS Drug Checking Project Coordinator, Chloe Sage

Language is Key When Relaying Drug Checking Results

How Do We Deliver Messages?

1. Start by connecting with the person— non-verbal (smile, eye contact), small talk.

2. Ask questions about the drug, the set & the setting.

3. Answer questions about the drug, the set & the setting.

4. Connect them to other materials & other services (outreach, treatment, safe zone, etc).

-Julie-Soleil Meeson, Elixer

Generating Informed Decisions Through Conversation

Perhaps one of the most effective outcomes of the drug checking process is that it generates conversation which further empowers people to make informed decisions surrounding substance use. During these conversations volunteers must be objective & use neutral language that neither endorses or discredits certain substances over others. Non-judgement is KEY!

Examples of using neutral language refrain from describing substances as “bad” or “good”. It is also important to convey to people that the process of drug checking only provides “partial” information about a substance & does not give the user “complete” information.

Setting, Drugs, Set Model

These are 3 simple steps to remember when performing substance testing:

1. Setting: The ambiance… Using with people or alone, having fun, openness of drug use, moment of use, etc.

2. Drugs: Dosage, Category, Frequency, Interactions, Mode of Consumption, etc.

3. Set: Experience of use, age, sex, weight, mental & physical health, alertness, etc.

Determine What Reagents to Use

Each type of substance requires a unique set of reagent tests. Make sure you know which you need before starting the test & it’s good practice to get them ready before you start testing.

Prepare the Testing Site

It’s best practice to use disposable cups when testing. When testing more than one substance be sure to use a new disposable cup for each substance. Never test more than one substance at a time to avoid confusion. Use a new serving instrument or serving spoon for each substance to avoid cross-contamination.

Place the Reagent Droplets on the Testing Site

Once you’ve prepared the proper reagents you’ll want to first place the droplets onto the testing site. If you’re using multiple reagents make sure to place the different droplets at least two inches apart from each other to ensure they don’t bleed into each other. If the different reagents touch one another the results will be invalid & you’ll have to start that particular test over. Carefully place about 1/3 of a "bump" per reagent droplet. Watch the reaction over the course of 60 seconds.

Watch the Reaction for Proper Results

If you are ever uncertain of the results don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion from someone with more experience using reagent test kits. There’s no harm in getting a second set of eyes to review the results. If the results are NORMAL, proceed to the next step. If the results are ABNORMAL, inform them of what the results could potentially mean & run the necessary follow-up tests until you determine what their substance likely consists of.

We recommend downloading our Reagent Testing Flow Chart by Clicking Here.

Basics to Using a Fentanyl Test Strip

1. To run a Fentanyl test fill a disposable cup with about 1.5oz of water (equivalent to a shot glass).

2. Next, you’ll instruct the guest to place more of their substance onto the water. For this test you’ll need slightly more than you needed for the reagent tests or the results may come back invalid. To clarify, you want about 1/3 of a “bump” when using a Fentanyl test strip.

3. Hold the solid blue side of the strip, insert the wavy side about 1/2 an inch into the mixture & stir for about 30 seconds, or until the center of the strip starts to saturate & change color. Remember, do not dip the entire strip into the mixture - only about 1/2 an inch.

4. The Fentanyl test strip will take about 45-60 seconds to give you a result.

5. Lastly, read the results using the instructions printed on the backside of the Fentanyl test strip packaging. Make sure when using the key on the back of the package the solid blue side is on the LEFT.

• Negative: Two lines (even if one of the lines is very faint, that indicates negative). Whenever substances are consumed you still want to proceed with caution.

• Positive: One line on the LEFT side. It is highly recommended to carry Narcan if you are planning to carry or consume any substance that contains Fentanyl.

• Invalid: One line on the RIGHT side. Anytime a test comes back invalid you’ll want to run another test with a new Fentanyl test strip. Do not attempt to re-use the same test strip. Try the test again, but add another 1/3 of a “bump” to try & get an accurate result. If you continue to receive invalid results proceed using that substance with extreme causation.

You can download our postcard on How to Use a Fentanyl Test Strip using the "Renegade Method" by Harm Reduction Circle by Clicking Here.

Definition: an unintentional transfer from one substance or object to another, with a harmful effect From the research I’ve done & from what I’ve been told by well-informed sources is that more than 75% of contamination occurs just 1 or 2 persons before the consumer.

Without getting too technical; the easiest way to explain it is this way… If on Halloween you go to 1,000 houses to get candy with your kid, of that 1000 houses how many of them legitimately would put marijuana candy into your kid's candy bag?

Realistically… I would say one or two — no more than three. Of course, there’s going to be the one or two douchebags who legit put weed in kids' candy on Halloween. But it’s way less common than a majority of the general population's beliefs.

It’s the same way with contamination & laced substances. Are there people who are intentionally making press pills & selling them as OxyContin while they’re just pure fentanyl? Yes, absolutely!

Are there people who are putting fentanyl into heroin to get their customers more addicted? Yes, absolutely!

But I think it’s closer to that 2 or 3 out of 1,000 number.

What I believe is happening is that low-level dealers who are close to the customer are using the same scale when weighing out multiple substances prior to sale. I don’t think that the type of person who deals fentanyl for $100 a gram is going to be the type of person to use a different scale for each substance they sell. I don’t think that they’re gonna be the type of person who wears gloves when they weigh out their substances. I don’t think they’re gonna be the type of person to adequately clean up spilled on surfaces when some falls.

All of those things listed above lead to cross-contamination on a detectable & deadly level.

Written by Annastasia Rose Beal