A good party can be an amazing way to bond with friends and be wowed
by some stellar DJs & entertainment. And as most of us who have
spent any time with our hands in the air on a dance floor know, the
use of party drugs of one kind or another is part of the scene. While
we believe that a great party can happen without the drugs, we know
that some of us will choose to use drugs. As an organization, we respect
everyone’s decisions when it comes to drug use, but we also don’t
want to kid ourselves by ignoring a pretty simple fact: drugs—of
any kind—can be harmful. As an organization we want to promote gay men’s
health—both at an individual and community level—but none
of us are think that offering scare tactics about drug use will help
achieve this. We don’t believe scaring people into health is a
viable option. What we want to do is offer those gay men who choose
to use drugs some ideas and strategies to reduce the potential harm
associated with drug use—without judging them or their decisions.
Don’t get us wrong—there is no safe drug and we don’t
believe it is possible to use drugs safely. We do, however, think there
are smarter ways to consume drugs and do the party scene.
From what we’ve seen and experienced, there are
at least two kinds of harm that can follow from drug use. The first
are the bad trips--passing out, puking, overdosing, or ending up in
the hospital. This not only means a shitty night for you but also for
those around you. We also believe careless drug use leads to arguments
between lovers, boyfriends, tricks, and friends, creating tension among
a community that is already faced with enough tension. And we know that
what can start off as fun can easily turn into a life-altering addiction.
There are also harms that extend beyond the individual. Promoters and
club owners have to deal with overdoses, have to deal with bad images,
have problems with getting permits, and have to deal with the police
and venue owners. The effect of this is pretty clear: too many problems
and the events and spaces we like to hang out and socialize in are likely
to be shut down. Our goal is to provide information and ideas that can
help reduce both these kinds of harm.
BEFORE THE PARTY:
Knowledge
You can reduce harm by knowing as much as you can about the drugs
you’re taking. Inform yourself. Read up, talk to friends, or
consider talking to your physician if you feel comfortable--but be
critical in your assessment. It’s easy to look for the upside,
so don’t ignore the downside. And be aware that everyone has
a vested interest in the information they give you. A well-rounded
knowledge base will help you make better decisions for yourself.
Sourcing
Do what you can to develop a relationship with a good dealer.
Use word of mouth to figure out who gets what where and whom others
trust. Test your drugs if you can. Buy your drugs in larger batches.
The more you can control when it comes to the stuff you take, the
less likely you’ll end up puking or passing out. Spend a couple
of bucks on a tetsing
kit. It's worth it.
Health
Be well rested and in positive headspace. If you’re sick or
feeling a bit down--consider either not going to the party or consider
not using drugs. And if your ex is going and you think you’ll
have a bad time, don’t go. There will always be another party.
While being in a bad mood at a party isn’t a problem, taking
drugs to put you in a better mood is. Sometimes no amount of any substance
will make things better.
Rendezvous Point
Pick a rendezvous point before you get to the event--even if you’ve
never been to the venue--people can get lost five minutes into some
big events. It can always be changed to something more suitable once
you’ve scoped the place out. This way you have a place to go
if something goes wrong.
Cash/ID
Do you have all the right identification? If you’re
on medication and have a problem will others be able to find out? And
do you have enough cash on you for a cab?
Party Pack
Pack what you need to make things more comfortable for you. Gum, candy
and all your party supplies. Tums or Rolaids? Do you have condoms? And
lube? Did you bring the glitter?
Plan Ahead For the Party
Figure out what drugs you are going to take before
you get to the party and bring only that, no extras. If you plan to
drink alcohol, decide on a limit before you get there. Stick to your
plan--when we’re fucked up we can forget what our limits look
like. And if you don’t stick to your plan, spend some time figuring
out what triggered the change.
After the Party
Think about crashing and your recovery--got enough of the stuff you
need to make it through the next day? Orange juice, comfort food,
vitamins. If you can, make sure you don’t have anything complicated
or stressful coming up in the next few days. The comedown can be a
bitch without the added stress of work or school or family.
Motivation
Do you know why you’re going? Are you on the prowl or
is this just a night of dancing with friends? What are your expectations?
And are they reasonable? Don't set yourself up to be dissapointed.
Being down can put you in a "I need more drugs" state-of-mind.
Build a group
This is one of the cornerstones of Buzzcode's harm reduction strategies.
Create a group where you can act as each others' safety-nets. When
you're preparing to go out, and you're still sober, discuss exactly
what drugs you plan to do, how much, and what time you plan to do
them.
DURING THE PARTY:
Hearing Safety
Consider wearing earplugs--or at least bring some with you
in case you want to wear some. When talking to someone on a dance
floor, put your finger over his or her ear canal--hearing damage can
occur if you try to yell over the music.
Flexible/Mobile Attitude
A party might not turn out as you expected. The music may not
be what you were looking for or you might find the place is devoid
of hotties. Shift your focus--hang with your friends, explore, watch
the lights, get into mischief, learn how to flag, meet new people,
find a dark corner and…
Explore
Check the chill room out. Stare at the visuals. Oggle the go-go
boys. Wander around and see what’s to see. It’ll give
you a chance to cool down and maybe change your direction if things
aren’t what you were hoping.
Get Comfortable
Figure out where things are--the bathrooms, the exits, water. It's
easy to get disoriented when you're fucked-up. Seek out/research in-house
harm reduction initiatives prior to entering a venue or immediately
after entering. Is there a first aid room? Is a harm reduction group
like DanceSafe onsite? Stake out a place on the dance floor and let
it settle. The first two hours can sometimes be a mess of people wandering
around--don’t let this settling get in the way of having a good
time.
Communicate Drug issues/Plans
Do your friends know what you’re taking? Tell them what you
plan to take--and talk to them just before you plan to take it. It's
a great idea to ask your friends if they think you're ok to drop,
and be prepared to wait if they say no.
If you are going to a party alone, grab a marker on the way out the
door and write what you’re taking on your wrist; If there is
a problem then somebody will know what you’ve taken and be able
to assist you.
Do you know what’s in the bullet you were just handed? Are you
sure? And did you know that sharing bullets represents a risk for
contracting hepatitis? If you are going to take this risk, be aware
that you are doing so.
Be with your People
Pick a spot on the dance floor; call it home base. Make a rendezvous
point in case someone gets lost and commit to visiting it if someone
disappears. And if you want to disappear and get lost, tell someone
that you’re going for a wander. If you meet Mr. Right Now, make
sure someone knows where you’re going or how to get hold of
you.
Build a Group
Smile and say hello to those around you. Make new friends.
You are likely going to reduce your risk of harm if you have people
around you who know what you’re doing. At the very least, you’ll
have someone who will be able to walk you off the dance floor if things
come to that. Check in with friends. Ask if they are okay every now
and then. Let them know if and when you decide to take more drugs. Tell
them if you think they might need to wait a bit longer—and ask
them if they think you should be taking more. They might not be able
to tell you anything, but if you get in the habit, then at least you’ve
given yourself a chance to think before you drop you next hit.
Time
Make sure you have a watch if timing your drugs is part of your harm
reduction strategy.
Rest and Water Safety
Keep hydrated and always ask if the bottle someone is
offering you is water. Partier’s frequently mix their drugs—especially
GHB—with their water. Almost everyone will tell you if the water
they have has GHB in it, but ask anyway. People forget or might assume
you already know. The last thing you want is a second vial of GHB. Take
a break to cool off--especially in hot venues--and if the venue is hot
think about lowering your drug intake for the night. Your body needs
water to function--and to process the drugs you’ve taken--being
overheated and dehydrated can increase the chance of a bad trip, passing
out, or other health problems. But don’t over do it. Too much
water can be a problem. About 500ml of water an hour when you are dancing
ought to be enough. Make sure you take a piss every now and then—and
if you don’t feel like you have to, try to force yourself. Urination
is a critical part of your body’s hydration system—without
peeing all the water in the world won’t help.
HOW TO SPOT TROUBLE:
It's important to remember that different people will
react differently to the same drugs, and combining drugs can bring on
an unexpected bad reaction or overdose. Some people can seemingly wolf
down half a pharmaceutical company and keep a grip, while others might
wig out on half a joint.
In yourself:
Do what you can be to be aware of how you are feeling--at times it may
be hard to pay attention to your body if the party rocks, but take a
second every now and then to check in with yourself. How’s you
stomach? Are you a bit too dizzy? Do you need to cool down? If something
amiss say something--don’t walk away alone and
don’t ignore it. Tell your friends how you are
feeling. And if you are not with friends, tell a stranger.
In others:
Ask your friends and people around you how they are feeling: watch out
for each other. The most apparent sign of trouble is probably someone
who is getting drowsy-- we’ve all seen this when somebody’s
taken too much. If you notice any of these symptoms, approach the person
and offer your assistance, be prepared to send someone else for a medic.
Symptoms: the person
- has slowed down,
- is wobbly,
- seems dizzy,
- is having a hard time speaking,
- is unnaturally still
- is leaning against the wall
- seems unable to lift their head
- eyes are rolling, or cannot focus
How to Deal with Trouble In Others:
Read Crisis 101 (coming
soon)
How to Deal with Trouble Yourself
If you start displaying symptoms such as feeling dizzy, sick, sudden
tiredness, sudden headaches or cramps and aching limbs it's time to
take a break. Other symptoms include a difficulty in peeing, peeing
with dark urine, not peeing at all, stopping sweating, and difficulties
in breathing. If you suffer any of these symptoms you should immediately
take a break and chill out to let your body cool down. Find a friend,
find first aid, leave the event if necessary, but not alone, if possible.
Sip a 500 ml of water slowly and let your body relax. Don't drink
too much water - as a rule try and drink about 500 ml an hour. If
you're dancing splash a bit of water on your head and neck to keep
your temperature down. Loosen your clothes and take time out to let
your body cool down. Don't go to the other extreme. If its cook outside
put something on—even if you’re sweating.
AFTER THE PARTY:
Transportation
Allow us to be your mother for just a second: "Do you know how
you’re getting home? Do not get into a car and drive after a
night out. At all. You’ve made a choice to take drugs and are
willing to take the risks, but don’t make that choice for others
(you know: someone’s mother / father / child / spouse / lover).
Grab a cab. In fact, make plans to take a cab--leave the car behind."
It’s too easy to think you’re fine when you’re buzzing
on that last hit of ecstasy. Besides, that cab ride home can be quite
an adventure!
Sex
We all know the deal: use a condom. But maybe think about other stuff--we
make better decisions when we’re rested and a bit more alert.
Have a shower, give a massage, snooze for a while--and then throw
his legs in the air. If you’re a bit tired and sketched out
see if a bit of sleep will help. And watch the Viagra and Poppers—the
mix can be fatal.
Rest
Get some sleep--whatever it takes to bring you down—chill
out with friends, take a long hot shower. After a hard night's partying
it's important to wind down and let your body recover. The more rest
you get, the smaller your crash. You might need a sleeping aid--but
maybe put your head down before you pop a Xanax or an Imovane. All party
drugs—particularly GHB—do not mix well with sedatives. Using
pot to help you come down can sometimes increase the feelings of anxiety
and paranoia in some people and make matters worse. Booze isn’t
the best idea either—you are probably already dehydrated as it
is and booze will only compound the problem. It's better to drink non-alcoholic
fluids and let your body come down naturally. Eat well, take it easy
and relax.
Nutrition
Sometimes after an event the last thing you want to do is eat--especially
if you’ve been doing crystal. Consider that the average person
needs between 2000 and 2500 calories a day. A night of hard dancing
to great tunes in a hot space can drain you of double that--so force
yourself to eat if you have to.
Crashing
Suicide Tuesdays, the blues, whatever—we’ve all
felt like shit afterwards. Leaving great music, great energy, and
dancing like you were on fire with friends can leave you feeling fragile
and vulnerable. Half the battle is knowing that you’re overtired,
depleted, and sketched out on the last of your drugs. What you’re
feeling is probably real, but keep it in context. And respect those
around you—they’re probably as fragile as you are. Be
good to each other. Call/email/hang out with your buddies if that
helps.
Build a Group
On the way home or when you're chilling or whatever—this is
a good time to review the night. Trash the coat check and talk about
the DJ. Make this the time to review other things: Did you manage
to stick to your harm reduction strategies? If not, figure out why.
Figure out what worked or didn’t work and why. Overall, it’s
a good idea to review what happened with others—to get a different
perspective on the night.
YOUR TIPS?
We learn by experience... If you have a party basic that all gay men
should know, please send it in
to us!
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