Opportunity to discuss HR for Young Drug Users - Seeking Advice/Should I?

[AcidTrippin]

I have the opportunity to become involved in this project, normally I say no to all forms of these things as I always think they have a worse effect but this has been sparked due to recent Green Rolex deaths etc. I have vast experience with teenage-young adult drug culture from those casual weed smokers/serious heavy young age addictions and a variety of chemicals/addiction myself after many years and have always taken harm reduction seriously from the beginning. My friends aren't as knowledgeable on this as me and approached me for help.

They are looking for around xx young adult people involved in the drug scene for a think tank sort of thing. Particularly those who have a good knowledge of research chemicals, ecstacy and stimulants
it is completely anonymous
and will be held at a non goverment owned venue that is still to be determined (so no name tags or signing in)

Alright basically, as you'll already know, there are a whole load of substances going about that were never going about before. The quality of pills in general is becoming more hit and miss in that they are being filled with more and more obscure chemicals. Due to the increase in drug related deaths the department of health are getting off their high horse and asking people involved in the scene for ideas on how to combat it or at the very least reduce the deaths that are occuring as a result of it

How do people feel about this?

I've been mentioning my insecurities are my anonyminity, but I've been told it's anonymous but how secure can that be.

Also, what do you BLrs the people interested in harm reduction feel are points that should be mentioned?

Personally one of the biggest ones for me is test kit distribution for free and availability at hot spots or in clubs without worry of prosecution.
Also free providing of equipment for use in opiate overdose and courses on first aid and using.
More education on difference between classic and RC drugs and the importance of research.

Am I right in saying the more chemical analogue families we ban the more dangerous the newer ones are? Or scientifically are they all safe, surely what synthetic cannabinoids blends we are one now must carry more side effects say vacoconstriction in comparison to the originals. Or is this not true to due advancements in science.

Bit of a hazy post as this is something difficult to think about but just to see what you all think. Especially after this belgium bust, think of how much shit is going to come about.

 

[Cornishman]

Wat?

 

[swampdragon]

Mm, that's the sort of thing I would love to have a say in, though I'm not a young adult and not exactly "involved in the drug scene." As far as anonymity goes you can always say that you've done lots in the past but now mostly just give advice to your friends.. you don't need to admit any more than that, I'd think?

The two things I think would massively help with HR are availability of good multiple-use test kits (rather than eztests that work out fairly expensive) and proper substance-testing facilities like they have in the Netherlands.

 

[Allein]

Mm, that's the sort of thing I would love to have a say in, though I'm not a young adult and not exactly "involved in the drug scene." As far as anonymity goes you can always say that you've done lots in the past but now mostly just give advice to your friends.. you don't need to admit any more than that, I'd think?

The two things I think would massively help with HR are availability of good multiple-use test kits (rather than eztests that work out fairly expensive) and proper substance-testing facilities like they have in the Netherlands.

The position of EADD's part time translator of incoherent posts if yours, I lost interest after about 5 words.

Can you provide a succinct approximation of the whole thing, I think Cornish would appreciate it also:D

 

[bogman]

Mm, that's the sort of thing I would love to have a say in, though I'm not a young adult and not exactly "involved in the drug scene." As far as anonymity goes you can always say that you've done lots in the past but now mostly just give advice to your friends.. you don't need to admit any more than that, I'd think?

The two things I think would massively help with HR are availability of good multiple-use test kits (rather than eztests that work out fairly expensive) and proper substance-testing facilities like they have in the Netherlands.

have this kit and very happy with it http://www.ecstasypilltest.com/

have emailed the vendor and told him he should also sell single kits as some people only want or are willing to pay for 1 btl.

 

[AcidTrippin]

Cornishman what's the problem? Thought it's fairly clear just the ideas are a bit sporadic as its early days.

I think I have a place involved in the drug scene to know that my knowledge is correct and factual, it wouldn't be some casual typical 2 e's a weekend user doing this I've always had a big interest in this and improving harm reduction in drug use after my friend OD (luckily survived) and the deaths of Evad, Mugz and FlippingTop and the inspiration from BL itself. I just don't want to be duped.

 

[AcidTrippin]

Basically.

The opportunity is for me (someone knowledeable on the subject of harm reduction, drugs and RCs like us other members of BL who understand unlike the media) to go and have an opportunity to be considered seriously and listened to by department of health on changes that I feel need to be made to the current drug laws/system in order to help protect the lives of young people in their usage.

They finally feel ready to step off their high horse and listen.

My issue is if people remember Drugs 2.0 book etc period with Mugz, these things can have very negative effects on the drug scene in some cases and also I'm personally worried about my anonyminity as by what I have to say it would be clear I have vast drug experience and this worries me just for my own legal safety.

I'm glad to see two of my key points:
1: Drug test kits free/widely available both on street/clinic and in clubs. Clubs should also have card printer to then immediately print out an image of said pill and sold name with contents and handed freely by PR/bar staff throughout night or festival - I see Boomtown did this.
2: Better, more extensive drug testing facilities for specific substances like NL/USA even at a fee.

Are considered, if people don't mind I'm going to keep posting points here and take note of all here, eventually when I'm a little less benzo'd out it'll need to be compiled into an essay or proper structure before I consider if I feel this would be worth while.

I just want more opinions from the people of BL who have taught me (bar erowid) everything I know when it comes to harm reduction.

 

[Cornishman]

Sorry for the dickish answer earlier btw, but this thread is still hard to fully understand.
For example, can you explain what this particular sentence means? I'm sure I'm not the only person who's confused by this...

"My issue is if people remember Drugs 2.0 book etc period with Mugz"

What does that even mean?

 

[AcidTrippin]

Sorry for the dickish answer earlier btw, but this thread is still hard to fully understand.
For example, can you explain what this particular sentence means? I'm sure I'm not the only person who's confused by this...

What does that even mean?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drugs-2-0-Revolution-Thats-Changing/dp/1846274591

I'm not advertising, there's a thread somewhere here on EADD on this stuff. Ismene made good opinion of it I thought...Or maybe that was before it came out and the newspaper article.

Basically Mugz had been offered to be interviewed etc for this book, but with giving out information on drugs that Mugz knew that general public and journalists (less so this one) specifically in this case don't know about e.g. certain drugs - the whole bluelight AMT ban joke? it can have a real negative effect for RC users as it results in swift bans and poor laws/misinformation to people. I want to have a positive effect, not a negative one, so I was interested in hearing if anyone who may have had more experience with this could give some input. You've gotta be careful how you go about these kinds of things and what you say, just as they would be with us.

Alongside this my own personal anonyminity, I don't want my face on the newspaper or to become a target or criminal. I wanna pass my advice, not enforce it leave it to them and that's it. And I want to hear other people here's opinions from EADD as there are always quality ones I read some people really know their stuff here.

 

[swampdragon]

TLDR..

He has the opportunity to be in a focus group for young drug users, with a harm reduction aim. He wants to know if he's risking his anonymity by taking part in the group, and also wanting to know people's suggestions for initiatives that would promote safer drug use.

 

[Si Dread]

Basically, the government have twigged that something's up & they want street level information.

I don't think this has anything to do with the media but the stimagatism of "authority" surrounds it. The media are mostly lackies to authority, perhaps Mike being the rare exception.

I would do it, & if I can help/support in any way, let me know PM! I'm old & I am not street though!

 

[swedger77]

testing kits are not all that these days. You need to have the full range of kits available and be pretty skillful at reading the results if you were to detect a snide pill with both Pmma/pma and mdma. Testing kits were very handy back in the mdma drought period when you could at least tell your pill had mdma or not.

The dutch system of proper testing stations is the only way forward on this matter. Reagent test kits are not the best solution.

 

[Mailmonkey]

legalise proper drugs.

 

[One Thousand Words]

Basic test kits are no longer enough. Try testing up some powder and then use this chart and you soon realise that you are often more confused than not...

NSFW:

Basic drug first aid knowledge is more important, even in ER departments. LSD for instance has always been treated with sedation and monitoring but this is no longer the case when it comes to NBome's. Respiratory and cardiovascular effects are now a greater threat and it's important that punters are comfortable in calling an ambulance when things go wrong.

If users were also more discerning with their drug taken there would less of a market for shit quality pills etc. The fact that people will often take any old shit to get high, especially if it is legal or quasi legal. If dealers were unable to offload bunk gear they would be less incline to buy it in the first place.

 

[Allein]

Basic drug first aid knowledge is more important, even in ER departments. LSD for instance has always been treated with sedation and monitoring but this is no longer the case when it comes to NBome's. Respiratory and cardiovascular effects are now a greater threat and it's important that punters are comfortable in calling an ambulance when things go wrong.

I read numerous time that the standard treatment for LSD psychosis is Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) but I've never heard of anyone actually being given it. In the vast majority of cases I'm aware of they gave nothing, not even benzos. I suppose they cannot be sure what you have actually taken so just monitor you to ensure you don't come to any physical harm.

As far as pills alleged to contain MDXX, the situation has become more than a little dangerous form what I can gather, many seem so ignorant of the dangers and the way people drop large numbers of pills without a second thought is scary, given the effects of things like PMA.

MDMA has a good safety profile, huge numbers of people taking it week in week out in the 90s with very few serious problems.

Even with testing kits available many wouldn't bother IME, education is still severely lacking, hardly surprising when it's obvious that legalisation would reduce the harm and danger immensely, some have a vested interest in this 'war on drugs'

 

[knock]

legalise proper drugs.

properise legal drugs.

 

[Cornishman]

Drugerise proper legals

 

[Si Dread]

Prop-Up Drugs Eyes!

Government should -

1) Stop prosecution for all & ANY drugs possession & jail heavy traffickers & dealers only!

2) Raise awareness about the dangers of RC's sold as illegal drugs!

3) Consider legislation that would allow less dangerous, more well-known drugs to circulate as opposed to permitting un-regulated NPS & RC supply. People are going to take drugs regardless of whether they might be dangerous or illegal!

4) Consider that on the odd occassion not banning a drug might make it LESS popular. Drugs that are not harmful or rarely harmful should not be banned & such drugs that are already banned should unbanned.

 

[bogman]

Education and information are the best ways to get HR to work. educate young people about the affects drugs will have on there life both the good and bad.

every nightclub and festival should have information on the dodgy drugs about atm.

just an example on how things are not working is this report on PR, the OP bought what he belived to be a new pill on the scene and yet it has being linked to deaths in there area months ago.
http://www.pillreports.com/index.php?page=display_pill&id=32318.

 

[AcidTrippin]

1) Stop prosecution for all & ANY drugs possession & jail heavy traffickers & dealers only!
2) Raise awareness about the dangers of RC's sold as illegal drugs!
3) Consider legislation that would allow less dangerous, more well-known drugs to circulate as opposed to permitting un-regulated NPS & RC supply. People are going to take drugs regardless of whether they might be dangerous or illegal!
4) Consider that on the odd occassion not banning a drug might make it LESS popular. Drugs that are not harmful or rarely harmful should not be banned & such drugs that are already banned should unbanned.

Education and information are the best ways to get HR to work. educate young people about the affects drugs will have on there life both the good and bad.

every nightclub and festival should have information on the dodgy drugs about atm.

just an example on how things are not working is this report on PR, the OP bought what he belived to be a new pill on the scene and yet it has being linked to deaths in there area months ago.
http://www.pillreports.com/index.php?page=display_pill&id=32318.

Thanks both, useful points exactly what I'm looking for especially with reference/stories.