Harm Reduction 101 - TRIP! Project

Harm Reduction 101

Kyla Zanardi, Lisa Campbell Salazar & Kai’enne Tyrmerik

What is a drug?

What is a drug?

What is a drug?

What is a drug?

Vin Mariani

Why do people use drugs?

Hierarchy of Use

What are the MOST stigmatized substances??

The least? Why??

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

Stigma and Drug Use

H A R M

R E D U C T I O N

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?

IEC T&C NSP & C

STI HEP TB

ART OST HR

MH SOC OD

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

The War on Drugs

Latin America Coca leaves Colonization Regulation Criminalization

South Africa Colonial / Apartheid Selective Alcohol

Prohibition as State-Sanctioned Racial Segregation Tool

Safer Consumption

Safer Injection

People who inject drugs are at much greater risk of HIV/Hep C transmission. 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.

Injection and Stigma

There are many risks associated with injection drug use

Important to not judge users and focus on providing life saving information

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

We have brought one for everyone! Yay!

Harm Reduction @ Raves

Great Britain responded to the health risks posed by raves by attempting to prohibit them. Rave organizers faced fines of up to 20,000 pounds and 6 months in prison, and police were

allowed to remove vehicles and sound equipment from any rave event. These measures seemed to fail because the parties simply moved into legitimate clubs, and this increased the risks involved with mixing drugs and alcohol. A recent UK survey of 16- to 29-year-olds showed that 9% of respondents had used ecstasy; this rose to 91% among members of the dance-club scene.43

Harm Reduction @ Raves

An alternative is to encourage harm reduction by ensuring that buildings meet safety and health standards, adequate security is provided to accommodate the large number of attendees and education about health effects is available from trained volunteers (YOU GUYS!) and from pamphlets and information cards. Such initiatives have been adopted by the rave

community and municipal and public health authorities and are being considered by some provincial regulatory authorities.

What is Rave Harm Reduction, Really?!

• Info!• Peer Educators• Free Water /

Fruit • Gum and

Earplugs• Medics• Safer

Consumption• Sexual Health• Testing• What else?!

Why is TRIP! important?

Research shows that, next to the internet, TRIP! is the most trusted source of information on drugs, sex and high-risk activities; while schools, media and family come in last!

Forum Theatre!

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

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 hir phat 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?

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

Scenario 2: It’s all crayzee maaan! “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?

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

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?????!

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

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?????!

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

QUESTIONS?

Helpful Resources

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