Hot off the presses! The TRIP! Project has just released two new pieces of harm reduction literature for the partyers of Toronto.
‘Safer K-Holes’ describes what a k-hole is and what to do in case of an emergency. It also contains tips on how to stay as safe as possible while k-holing and general tips on safer ketamine use. Continue reading
Unbelievable! But according to doctors of the addiction centre at St. George Medical School in London, England it’s true. Between the ages of 21 and 30 the patient only known as Mr. A is thought to have taken approximately 40 000 Ecstasy pills (Times Online). Over the course of his use he gradually increased his dosage from 5 on the weekends to 25 a day. Continue reading
Know a lot about safer partying? Want to learn? Want to educate others and volunteer at parties? Get involved with TRIP!
The TRIP! volunteer training involves a 5-day training course (spread across 5 consecutive Saturdays, 11am-6pm) and which features workshops on various topics related to harm reduction, HIV prevention, and safer partying. These trainings are offered twice a year. Continue reading
We’re proud to announce the return of our much-loved ‘Safer Snorting’ booklets – complete with personal snorting device! This booklet was initially released in 2003 and met with huge success and all-round positivity by community members. The Safer Snorting booklet identifies the health risks associated with sharing straws and rolled-up bills when snorting drug — with a particular focus on Hepatitis C transmission. We’re all stocked up with 10, 000 of the puppies so next time you’re at a party be sure to swing by the TRIP! booth and pick one up!
TRIP! outreach workers and volunteers went to the World Electronic Music Festival (WEMF) last weekend and have finally recovered along with the other 5000 attendees! Well, almost recovered.
A good thousand people visited us at the TRIP! booth this year, most of which wanting to grab our popular ‘drug eyes’ poster and pocket a handful of condoms. Continue reading
Today on CBC Radio News Harvard Professor Lester Grinspoon took on drug policy conservative Barry McKnight. McKnight claims that higher concentrations of THC in pot are creating criminals and crippling Canadian youth. Grinspoon took on this falacy by presenting the point that stronger drugs mean that users will moderate their use. Grinspoon challenged the reclassification of marijuana as a Level 1 sustaince by stating that when US drug companies created the synthetic canaboid pill called Marinol they had it classified at Level 2, so that it could be perscribed by phsyicians. If a synthetic drug that is classified at Level 2 has 100% levels of THC it does not make sense to classify a substance that is of a lesser concentration at Level 1. Humbled, McKnight thanked Grinspoon for his research stating that “families need information” about these harmful substances. Grinspoon responded wittily that families need correct information, not hyped up propaganda. Youth need correct information about marijuana, a substance that is signifigantly less toxic than alcohol, so that they can consume it in a responsible manner. Continue reading
According to TRIP surveys, Marijuana is one of the most popular drugs at parties. In Canadian society Marijuana very accepted, often smoked outside on the streets with bravo. In 2003 Toronto police chief Julian Fantino made a public statement that police would not arrest users with less than 30 grams on them. Jean Chretien was pushing bills through that would decriminalize cannabis, but then he left office and things fell apart. That bill has yet to be passed, yet Canadian youth are under the impression that marijuana is still legal. With Stephen Harper in power, the police are not as forgiving and there has been a recent spike in pot arrests. Continue reading
Well, we all knew it has been happening all along in our own communities, but a recent study by Nielsen BuzzMetrics has discovered that teens are using social networking sites to swap tips online about drug use. The new study reports that around 1.6 per cent of youth are using the internet to find information on drugs. Of this percentile, 11% are trading tips on how to use drugs safetly. Continue reading
Spending time in the wild and communing with the splendour and magnificence of our planet in its natural state can deliver massive rewards. By simply leaving our realms of metropolitan madness we relieve our minds, bodies and senses of the urban assault. Combine that relief with great people, art and booty-shaking music and you’ve got yourself the makings of a mind-blowing time. But the forest has its hazards too and camping must be done in an intelligent way with knowledge and insight. Luckily there are rules and tactics for keeping us safe…
Kieran King, a 15-year old student from small town Saskatchewan had the police visit his school to do some drug education. Like most of us in High School, he didn’t buy it, and decided to do a little bit of research. He probably went to all the good websites; Erowid, Lycaeum Drug Archive, Cannabis Culture, etc. What he found, and what he shared with his fellow students after his thorough research, was that cannabis is actually less harmful than other drugs like alcohol and tobacco. When Parkland High School administration got word of Kieran’s research they were not happy. Continue reading