Harm reduction
That people use drugs is a fact of life, historically and today. Many are legal, like alcohol, tobacco, and, in some contexts, marijuana, while others remain illegal. Organizing around harm reduction is premised on the belief that drug use exists in all communities and that it is better to work to minimize the harmful consequences of drug use than to turn a blind eye or criminalize certain substances. In Austin, early harm reduction efforts started with street outreach among drug users at risk of HIV infection. As the needs of people who use drugs and the nature of drug use evolves, so do harm reduction tactics.
We value those in our communities that use drugs.
Syringe exchange in texas
Despite the fact that Texas drug paraphernalia laws virtually criminalize syringe service programs to this day, underground needle exchange programs have been operating in Austin for decades. The National Institutes of Health in 1997 reviewed hundreds of scientific studies and concluded that programs such as needle exchange were successful scientifically and did not increase the number of drug users. These programs help prevent overdose deaths, help prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases and other illnesses and provide vital information to drug users in the community. Syringe Services programs (SSPs) are also cost effective. According to a 2020 report from the Civil Rights Clinic at the UT School of Law and the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, nationally an additional $10 million for SSPs would result in 194 HIV infections averted in one year, resulting in a lifetime treatment cost savings of $75.8 million.
A member of the Austin Harm Reduction Needle Exchange program gives out clean syringes to users who bring in dirty ones (Jana Birchum, 1997)
The Austin Harm Reduction Needle Exchange program, March 1997 (Jana Birchum)
Party And Play
PNP stands for “party and play”; “party” is a euphemism for crystal meth and “play” means sex. So today, gay chat rooms are loaded with messages from gay men “seeking others for PNP.” The result has been a documented rise in new HIV/AIDS cases because of this drug's use. The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center reports that one-third of all new HIV infections are related to meth use, a figure consistent with that of other major cities such as New York City and San Francisco. There are local services and safe spaces to openly talk about the kind of sex you are having. Organizations like Texas Harm Reduction Coalition and Kind Clinic distribute safer PNP kits with tips on how to party safely. You should have the kind of sex you want but also be aware of resources and services available to you for safer and sexier play!
TESTING CLUB DRUGS
Though marketed for use on urine, grassroots organizers have been distributing testing strips to people who use drugs to test their drugs for the presence of fentanyl. This incredibly powerful opiate can cause overdoses even in very small amounts and has been reportedly found in popular club drugs like cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine over the past several months. Luckily, these strips make testing drugs relatively simple. Just dissolve a very small amount in water, submerge the strip up to the marked line, and wait up to 5 minutes for results to appear. For these testing strips, which are also the ones provided at the exhibit, a single line will appear if the drugs are positive for fentanyl and two lines will appear if it is negative. Be sure to double check the testing procedures if you are using different strips.
NALOXONE
Naloxone, often referred to by its brand name Narcan, is a medication that blocks the effects of opioids and can be used to attempt to reverse an overdose. In addition to those who may overdose while intentionally using opioids, others using tainted batches of club drugs are also at risk of opioid overdose. Numerous local, state, and national organizations provide online and in-person trainings for those who would like to learn how to administer Narcan. Plus, the life-saving drug is often available for free.
