TRIP! Project

Over the last month there have been a number of deaths and hospitalizations in Canada due to adulterated MDMA with PMMA, an analog derived from anise oil. It’s really important to test your supply in order to avoid bunk pills. Many users who take these adulterated pills don’t feel them kick in and end up redosing, thus experiencing overdoses. If you do take a pill and you don’t feel it hit soon enough, avoid redosing as it could potentially be PMMA. These deaths did occur in Western Canada, and while we haven’t heard anything around PMMA in Toronto, there are similar concerns about bunk pills on the eastern front. This is just another example of what happens when you crack down on precursers (like safrole oil), as underground chemists will look for other new ways to synthesize legal analogs, which can be more dangerous than the illegal drugs they are based on. While the B.C. police will not release the identity of the pills that caused these deaths, we encourage the community to do their own research and share information online. Continue reading →

No Health Card? No ID? No problem!

At least at IMAGINE, a clinic organized and run by U of T students out of the Queen West Community Health Centre (where TRIP! runs out of) for patients who may otherwise have trouble navigating the health care system. Continue reading →

As the rain came pouring down, he walked towards the building with determination. He knew what he wanted. Vincent turned and grabbed the hand of his best friend, Trisha, and charged towards the end of a massive line up of people directed to the giant doors of the building. Eventually, the rain had stopped and the sound of giant wings that was the numerous umbrellas being closed and put away could be heard over the many conversations happening in the line. A bit more time had passed before Vincent spun around and handed Trisha a water bottle and a capsule, which was half filled with white powder. When she gave him a puzzled look, he learned towards her and gently whispered in her ear, “Just swallow it like it’s a prescription.” Her eyes lit up in realization as she ecstatically tossed down the pill with some water. Continue reading →

Going to a bar or hitting a club can be an adventure some nights. The beer we have at a friends place before heading out becomes eight drinks, the bouncer who was looking at you funny when you walked in the door suddenly has a problem with your presence. At moments it can seem like all this has happened before, and that’s because it has. TRIP! in conjunction with the Toronto Safer Nightlife Committee, have released the results of the Toronto SaferNightlife Survey. Continue reading →

Dear reader

Welcome to the Mixmag Drugs Survey 2012 in partnership with the Guardian. This year we hope to produce the biggest – and first truly global – survey of drug use amongst young people, clubbers and the wider drug using population ever conducted. It takes about 10-20 minutes to fill in, is completely anonymous and by being part of it, you could help change the world. Continue reading →

Over the years, TRIP! has actively kept track of drug trends in the Toronto dance music community. TRIP! volunteers from SEED Alternative School are keeping up this trend with their community-based survey for their course ‘Challenge and Change in a Diverse Society’. The purpose of this survey is to find out what your stance on harm reduction is. We also hope to collect data on whether you think it would benefit Torontonians (and society in general) in making better choices while partying and in turn, helping them become healthier individuals with productive lifestyles. They would really appreciated it if you would help them with their study of youth and harm reduction. Check out the survey by clicking the links below, and read up more on harm reduction below! Continue reading →

Brought to you by GAAP (New College) and Empower and TRIP! (Central Toronto Community Health Centres)

4:30 PM: MEET AT THE WGSI LOUNGE

• [NEW COLLEGE, WILSON HALL – 20 WILLCOCKS ST]
  Light refreshments and condom cupcakes will be served!
• Sexy condom art!

Continue reading →

I woke up once on the front landing on a Queen West apartment building. It was late November, and nearly 4 am. I was by myself, and didn’t have my purse. I was underdressed beneath my coat, and hungry. I walked in to a 24hr coffee shop, and felt sorry for the woman who had to work the late night shift. In retrospect, she probably felt sorry for me too. A man bought me a sandwich, and we sat together while I ate it and he drank coffee. I dont remember our conversation, but I do remember finding a camping light in my coat pocket as we spoke. I thanked him and left, then grabbed a cab home. Continue reading →

Can Toronto’s clubland chaos be reined in?

BY: JESSE SHIP

TRIP! ProjectFour stakeholders in Toronto’s nightlife community—Yamina-Sara Chekroun (youth-outreach worker/event promoter), Nav Sangha (DJ/venue owner), Mike Homewood (Homewood Security) and Samantha Wells (Centre for Addiction & Mental Health)—came together yesterday at the King West Hyatt Regency to take part in an informative and lively panel discussion moderated by entertainment lawyer and film impresario, Jerry Levitan. A crowd of 70-odd students, club operators, fun-loving partiers, and security- and law-enforcement professionals came out to share their concerns and offer suggestions for managing issues like sexual aggression and illicit drug use in Toronto’s club community. These were the most pertinent talking points: Continue reading →