There WILL BE NO Harm Reduction Funding and no alternatives except prison and death in the street. If Trump is elected. no public education, no EPA, no FBI, no unions, no social funding, no safety nets, no minimum wage, no rights or protections for the 99%, quickly there will be no jobs at all and no hope... This is end game capitalism... This is HATE... Nobody wins this game except .002% of the richest of the rich who are loyal to the dictator...

https://snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-lawless-crash-video?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share

How will this election affect you? How does legislation affect you?

Join us for a webinar Policy Comes Alive: Narcofeminism Storyshare Addresses NC Legislation on Thursday, October 31 from 1:30-3pm ET.

Let’s explore how political decisions affect us on a daily basis. NC Survivors Union works hand in hand with pregnant and parenting people who use drugs, TLBG people who use drugs, people in the sex trades, and others, and we want to know how policy decisions might hurt these communities.

Join us as NC Survivors Union holds a webinar on reproductive rights for pregnant and parenting people who use drugs, as well as the rights of other communities of people who use drugs.

We will be using stories from our Narcofeminism Storyshare project, a storytelling project which reduces and disrupts stigma, to talk about these issues.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6576599501532313439

Someone was overdosing and I stopped and called 911 then administered Narcan and started to give rescue breath’s. They didn’t make it and the responding paramedic said I must have given the the rescue breaths wrong because the body didnt show signs that someone attempted rescue breathing.

Do you think this is because they passed away again or I did it wrong and killed this person?

I've used smelling salts to wake up a drunk buddy to keep him out of the drunk tank when I was younger so I know they can be pretty potent. With all the benzo laced dope, my question is weather using smelling salts is a viable option for OD response?

I've been using a lot of Kratom recently and I see the recommended starting doses and stuff, but I never seem to be able to see the "don't go above this limit". I've been taking more recently and mixing it a fair bit with other drugs, I feel like it's safer than other alternatives, but I'm struggling to see the upward limit with this stuff. I'm trying not to pick up Oxy or down or any of that shit but it's hard cuz that's all my body craves. I'm trying to stop up and my body's so anxious and shit I don't know how to calm down, but last time I went to a psychiatric appointment they just told me to stop drinking and smoking weed because "they're both depressants they're dampering your mood, we can't change your meds until you stop" and I was struggling with terrible depression and insomnia and was homeless too and so I tried drugs and shit to stop drinking and well I do both now. Fuck the weed comment, weed is chill. Ugh idk how to get sober, I made it like four days for everything, 10 days without drinking, I don't know how to stop again cuz it made me feel dead.

I saw in another group someone had mentioned harm reduction for snorting. I believe they said there was a certain type of grass or weed you can put in your nose and it helps heal the tissue but i cant find the post and thought id try asking here. Im ultimately trying to get sober again. But in the mean time im trying to make my addiction less painful and hard on my body. Any suggestions would be helpful. I have always rinsed with water after using but lately my plug keeps changing the product and i have had lots of nose bleeds and sinus infections 🙃

I'm sure different drugs have different curves as well, but psychedelics in particular seem not to follow a linear curve.

For example: Does 100ug then 200ug LSD feel double the intensity?

I have 2 paper tabs just bought them for a rave also bought reagent kit with just ehrlich should that be enough to be safe or should I also get marquis of Hoffman to make sure ++ is there anything else ehrlich works on as a friend is bringing some Xtc and I want to test it before I take anything to play it safe as last time I tripped it was definitely some research chem and put me into a horrid state for a couple months

Been looking for a free source for a bit now as I’ve od’d twice in the last year and don’t have much money and my harm reduction money all goes to narcan. Got it on script now so I should have 16 boxes by the end of 6 months. But test strips are a little harder to get for free.

i've been IV'ing opioids for over 25 years (i'm 40 now), and i've been prescribed them since I started for severe chronic pain, but as soon as i discovered IV I realized how much i loved the rush, the nod, the warm hug euphoria, AND the pain relief. i've been using the same spot on my bicep for the past 5 years, using up to 5 or 6 hits daily, even reusing the same tip for 5 or more shots, and haven't had an issue until about a week and a half ago. that was when i i blew out the spot. i'm so upset. i've tried finding spots all over both arms and nothing works. i can't use my legs because i'm diabetic and leg stuff doesn't heal very well on me. i don't know what to do. it's at the point where i end up in tears after trying and trying to get my hit to register, and either getting no flash of blood, or getting a shitty flash of blood but then feeling it start to miss pretty much right away. then i end up with blood clots in the syringe barrel, and my shot ends up needing to be re filtered, a bunch gets wasted, and i'm losing my shit.

no i won't boof it, i don't care what anyone says it doesn't work as well for me. maybe cuz i'm always constipated, i don't know, and i don't care, a big part of why i do this is the rush from my opioids, i've been IV'ing for over 2 decades and obviously can't just use a method with less bioavailability, so that rules out everything other than IV and boofing, but again i won't boof it. please don't suggest it. i've tried it and ended up feeling sick and got nothing out of it. and since i'm prescribed it, i can't just "use more and boof it" because i don't HAVE more.

i'm honestly at the point where i'm about to try shooting into my di(k or into my jug. i need help figuring this out. i just can't figure out what my veins feel like, and i've ended up hitting a nerve more than once because veins and nerves feel the same to me. what the hell is wrong with me?

I know you can purchase them online but does anyone know if there is a place within big cities in the US that commonly carries them? Maybe CVS or Walgreens?

The non-profit Mainline shared this message about possible plans of the current government to cut funding completely of many harm reduction organizations. We can not let this happen because it will do us (the user) more harm than good. Let your voice be heard by sending the politicians an email. It does not matter if you're Dutch or not, this has international ramifications. Here's a template you can use and list of the politicians to send it to.

Dutch Instructions bellow:

#Stop the cruel cut on Mainline

On 21 October, State Secretary Karremans announced a package of cuts. This also includes the complete phasing out of the subsidy that Mainline receives from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Out of nowhere. Without substantive argumentation. Where other institutions are cut by 4 to 15%, Mainline will be completely scrapped in three years' time. In the long run, this means the end of our organisation.

#Join us in the fight

We call on all MPs, friends from the field and all people who care about us to help us. In a time of growing homelessness, increasing drug use in public spaces, the introduction of new, powerful substances – such as synthetic opiates (fentanyl, nitazenes) or strong stimulants such as flakka – Mainline is needed more than ever.

Knowledge about harm reduction, drugs, complex, combined problems: all of this can be lost. Our Mainline magazine – with which we reach almost all marginalized people who use drugs in the Netherlands with information – is disappearing. 34 years of passion, knowledge, skills. 34 years of work experience in more than 56 countries in the world. A final piece of activism and critical voice in the drug field. All gone. And worst of all: with Mainline, a piece of humanity also disappears. A warm gesture to people who survive at the very bottom of our society: gone.

#Mainline must not disappear

Does this also make you very angry? Send an email to the MPs of the VWS committee. Call on them to stop this cold and cruel cut, which is not based on any substantive argument, during the budget debate on Thursday 24 October. Please share this post with everyone you know in the field. We cannot turn this political storm around on our own. All help is welcome!

#MAIL THE COMMITTEE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WELFARE AND SPORT

Here is a sample email that you can send to all committee members of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

Dear members of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport,

I would like to urge you to reverse the proposed cuts to the Mainline Foundation. In a time of growing homelessness, increasing drug use in public spaces, the introduction of new, powerful substances – such as synthetic opiates (fentanyl, nitazenes) or strong stimulants such as flakka – Mainline is needed more than ever. If Mainline disappears, not only will a unique expertise on drugs, health, drug policy and harm reduction disappear, but also a final piece of humanity towards marginalized people who use drugs. I call on you to stop these cuts during the budget debate of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport on Thursday 24 October.

Sincerely,

[first name, last name]

#Addresses

##Copy-paste this in the BCC send to box:
j.tielen@tweedekamer.nl, m.mohandis@tweedekamer.nl, r.jetten@tweedekamer.nl, m.bikker@tweedekamer.nl, w.paulusma@tweedekamer.nl, p.vhouwelingen@tweedekamer.nl, j.vdhil@tweedekamer.nl, m.koekkoek@tweedekamer.nl, h.bevers@tweedekamer.nl, j.bushoff@tweedekamer.nl, h.krul@tweedekamer.nl, j.dijk@tweedekamer.nl, r.claassen@tweedekamer.nl, e.esser@tweedekamer.nl, r.blaauw@tweedekamer.nl, p.crijns@tweedekamer.nl, e.slagt-tichelman@tweedekamer.nl, c.vdwal-zeggelink@tweedekamer.nl, r.hertzberger@tweedekamer.nl, d.e.m.c.jansen@tweedekamer.nl, a.joseph@tweedekamer.nl, i.eabassi@tweedekamer.nl, ines.kostic@tweedekamer.nl, d.j.h.vdijk@tweedekamer.nl, f.thiadens@tweedekamer.nl, m.rikkers-oosterkamp@tweedekamer.nl, i.saris@tweedekamer.nl, g.markuszower@tweedekamer.nl, edgar.mulder@tweedekamer.nl, j.sneller@tweedekamer.nl, c.stoffer@tweedekamer.nl, christine.teunissen@tweedekamer.nl, a.vcampen@tweedekamer.nl, a.dkort@tweedekamer.nl, c.vdplas@tweedekamer.nl, i.vdijk@tweedekamer.nl, g.f.c.vmeijeren@tweedekamer.nl, d.ceder@tweedekamer.nl, l.dassen@tweedekamer.nl, s.mutluer@tweedekamer.nl, j.pool@tweedekamer.nl, maikel.boon@tweedekamer.nl, m.aardema@tweedekamer.nl, d.ram@tweedekamer.nl, m.tseggai@tweedekamer.nl, m.patijn@tweedekamer.nl, a.pijpelink@tweedekamer.nl, h.veltman@tweedekamer.nl, a.kisteman@tweedekamer.nl, f.bruyning@tweedekamer.nl, d.ergin@tweedekamer.nl, s.dobbe@tweedekamer.nl, i.rooderkerk@tweedekamer.nl, diederik.boomsma@tweedekamer.nl

For more details about who these people are check this link.

Nederlandse instructies:

#Stop de wrede bezuiniging op Mainline

Op 21 oktober kondigde Staatssecretaris Karremans een pakket aan bezuinigingen aan. Daarbinnen valt ook de volledige afbouw van de subsidie die Mainline krijgt van het Ministerie van VWS. Uit het niets. Zonder inhoudelijke argumentatie. Waar andere instellingen gekort worden met 4 tot 15% wordt Mainline in drie jaar tijd volledig geschrapt. Op termijn betekent dat het einde van onze organisatie.

#Strijd met ons mee

Wij roepen alle Kamerleden, vrienden uit het werkveld en alle mensen die ons een warm hart toe dragen op om ons te helpen. In een tijd van groeiende dakloosheid, toenemend druggebruik in de openbare ruimte, de intrede van nieuwe, sterke middelen – zoals synthetische opiaten (fentanyl, nitazenen) of sterke stimulanten als flakka – is Mainline juist harder nodig dan ooit.

Kennis over harm reduction, drugs, complexe, gecombineerde problematiek: dit kan allemaal verloren gaan. Ons Mainline magazine – waarmee we vrijwel alle gemarginaliseerde mensen die drugs gebruiken in Nederland bereiken met voorlichting: verdwijnt. 34 jaar passie, kennis kunde. 34 jaar werkervaring in meer dan 56 landen in de wereld. Een laatste stukje activisme en kritisch geluid in het drugsveld. Allemaal weg. En het allerergst: met Mainline verdwijnt ook een stukje menselijkheid. Een warm gebaar naar mensen die helemaal aan de onderkant van onze maatschappij overleven: weg.

#Mainline mag niet verdwijnen

Word jij hier ook heel boos van? Stuur dan een mail naar de Kamerleden van de commissie van VWS. Roep hen op tijdens de begrotingsbehandeling van donderdag 24 oktober deze kille en wrede bezuiniging, die op geen enkel inhoudelijk argument is gebaseerd, te stoppen. Deel dit bericht met iedereen die je kent in het veld. Deze politieke storm kunnen wij niet in ons eentje kenteren. Alle hulp is welkom!

#MAIL DE COMMISSIE VAN VWS

Hierbij een voorbeeldmail die je kan sturen naar alle commissieleden van VWS.

Geachte leden van de Kamercommissie VWS,

Bij deze wil ik u dringend oproepen om de voorgenomen bezuiniging op stichting Mainline terug te draaien. In een tijd van groeiende dakloosheid, toenemend druggebruik in de openbare ruimte, de intrede van nieuwe, sterke middelen – zoals synthetische opiaten (fentanyl, nitazenen) of sterke stimulanten als flakka – is Mainline juist harder nodig dan ooit. Als Mainline verdwijnt, verdwijnt niet alleen een unieke expertise rond drugs, gezondheid, drugsbeleid en harm reduction, maar ook een laatste stuk menselijkheid richting gemarginaliseerde mensen die drugs gebruiken. Ik roep u op om tijdens de begrotingsbehandeling van VWS op donderdag 24 oktober deze bezuiniging tegen te houden.

Met vriendelijke groet,

[voornaam, achternaam]

##Copy-paste deze email adressen in het BCC verzender naar vakje:

j.tielen@tweedekamer.nl, m.mohandis@tweedekamer.nl, r.jetten@tweedekamer.nl, m.bikker@tweedekamer.nl, w.paulusma@tweedekamer.nl, p.vhouwelingen@tweedekamer.nl, j.vdhil@tweedekamer.nl, m.koekkoek@tweedekamer.nl, h.bevers@tweedekamer.nl, j.bushoff@tweedekamer.nl, h.krul@tweedekamer.nl, j.dijk@tweedekamer.nl, r.claassen@tweedekamer.nl, e.esser@tweedekamer.nl, r.blaauw@tweedekamer.nl, p.crijns@tweedekamer.nl, e.slagt-tichelman@tweedekamer.nl, c.vdwal-zeggelink@tweedekamer.nl, r.hertzberger@tweedekamer.nl, d.e.m.c.jansen@tweedekamer.nl, a.joseph@tweedekamer.nl, i.eabassi@tweedekamer.nl, ines.kostic@tweedekamer.nl, d.j.h.vdijk@tweedekamer.nl, f.thiadens@tweedekamer.nl, m.rikkers-oosterkamp@tweedekamer.nl, i.saris@tweedekamer.nl, g.markuszower@tweedekamer.nl, edgar.mulder@tweedekamer.nl, j.sneller@tweedekamer.nl, c.stoffer@tweedekamer.nl, christine.teunissen@tweedekamer.nl, a.vcampen@tweedekamer.nl, a.dkort@tweedekamer.nl, c.vdplas@tweedekamer.nl, i.vdijk@tweedekamer.nl, g.f.c.vmeijeren@tweedekamer.nl, d.ceder@tweedekamer.nl, l.dassen@tweedekamer.nl, s.mutluer@tweedekamer.nl, j.pool@tweedekamer.nl, maikel.boon@tweedekamer.nl, m.aardema@tweedekamer.nl, d.ram@tweedekamer.nl, m.tseggai@tweedekamer.nl, m.patijn@tweedekamer.nl, a.pijpelink@tweedekamer.nl, h.veltman@tweedekamer.nl, a.kisteman@tweedekamer.nl, f.bruyning@tweedekamer.nl, d.ergin@tweedekamer.nl, s.dobbe@tweedekamer.nl, i.rooderkerk@tweedekamer.nl, diederik.boomsma@tweedekamer.nl

I just got an apartment by myself and it's strange to be by myself. I was trying to sober up but I found out I had covid yesterday and I kinda fucked up. At least it wasn't meth lol but still. I guess if I'm not going to have a completely clean act here, if I'm alone, when do I need to ask for help? I don't wanna die alone in my apartment. I was hanging out with friends and stuff to keep me busy but I found out I had covid and now have to tell so many people. I've never had my own place, before this I was homeless so I'd just sit outside on cameras or be inside awkwardly high asf (which was okay with them as long as you weren't a disturbance or like... Puking all over yourself... Not that that has happened to me before). But if I'm really alone and do end up fucked up, when do I need to ask for help?

The blood thinners make it all seem more effective. I've noticed pain in my sides for the last few days after I went a little too hard. Is this a bad sign?

hey y'all thought maybe someone here can help? my friend is buying substances/pills online through sketchy retailers and won't stop even though me and our other friends have asked her to. she claims she checks them for fent but i KNOW her and she's likely only doing it occasionally. i've been carrying narcan with me just in case but is there more i can do? how do you tell if something from a random source is safe, can i get her a safer supply, is there a certain way to talk to her that'll convince her to listen to me and stop? idk just stressed so any help appreciated thanks guys

Honestly I'm just so sick of this. I want heroin back!!! 😭😭😭 I already OD'd on heroin twice but at least it was only twice! In my whole 5-year career of using it and both of those times it was really mixed with fentanyl back then. Now back fucking with this shit again and man. I'm just so sick of falling out. Every time I think maybe this is a little bit, Maybe this is good. There I am falling out again having to be narcaned again. Traumatizing my friends, making myself sick, and always having to have at least two things of narcan. And the worst part of it..... I don't even know how to make it register to myself how serious that is. How every single time I am possibly going to die and leave this world and I can't make myself care. I can't see it as serious. And when other people like my family try to tell me fentanyl is so dangerous. And act all serious about it. I just get more upset. Like hey we have narcan now like it'll be fine. Just don't use by yourself. But it is serious to have to be narcaned I guess. And the look on my boyfriend's face this last time was just heartbreaking. I woke up to him holding me, dancing with me, telling me he doesn't know what he's going to do when I am not here. What am I going to do? Also why aren't they making each narcan spray 8mg instead of 4mg?!?!? Most people only carry 1 narcan with them, especially non-druggies, and most people need 2 narcan to come out.

Title pretty much says it all. I can’t go out much these days and I’d love to be able to work in a field that I’m passionate about, volunteering or paid. Helping others would mean the world to me.

EDIT: I’m in Canada if that helps

#19 days until election day

(last updated on 16-10-2024 by /u/cyrilio)

Voting overview

• Early voting has begun in many states around the country.

• Primary resource for all things voting --> https://vote.gov/

• Register to vote no fewer than 30 days before the election in which you wish to vote.

• Check your registration here or here. Some states have purged voter rolls.

• If you are a US citizen living abroad and want to vote, go here.

• If you want to vote by mail, select your state in the drop-down menu here.

• If you have questions contact your local election officials. Find their info for your state here.

• Make a plan for election day: check the location and hours of your polling place and be sure to bring along any required documents. See polling location and document requirements for your locality here.

• If you're voting by mail be sure to mail your ballot ample time in advance.

Check this if you want to vote in the US!

Click here to register to vote or update your registration

Find updated, clear, accurate information about voting here: https://vote.org

Call or text the election protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Check what your state's voter ID rules are here.

Video showing you How to Vote in 2024 (and Beyond) 4.5 mins

Answers to common questions about registering and voting

• Mail-in and absentee voting
• Early voting
• Voter ID requirements
• Changing your address
• Changing your name
• Changing your political party

States with Drugs Ballot Measures in 2024 elections:

• Easy explainer about which states have cannabis ballot measures and what they are about --> LINK
• Florida – Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
• Nebraska – Initiative 437, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
• Nebraska – Initiative 438, Medical Marijuana Regulation Initiative
• South Dakota – Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
• North Dakota – Initiated Measure 5, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
• Arkansas – Medical Marijuana Expansion Initiative
• Massachusetts Question 4, Legalization and Regulation of Psychedelic Substances Initiative (2024)
• California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative (2024)
• Arizona
• Oregon
• more to come link

Did we miss anything? Send us a modmail and we'll add it

EDIT 1: Made this post 16-10-2024

hi, so i (afab 23yo) used to be a pretty moderate ketamine user for some prolonged time, and i noticed changes to my bladder. my bladder seems to hold much much less volume of urine than before, and when i don’t pee in time it hurts as if i drank a whole water bottle but not that much comes out. it doesn’t usually hurt nor i have utis, but im concerned and would like to check if everything is okay. what doctor should i go to and what tests should i request? i also want to tell them about drug use so they see a point why i can be concerned. i live in europe so i don’t ask about doctors attitude towards drugs since it varies for countries.

I live in an area that has frequent wildfires. Observing the devastation from Hurricane Helene on the opposite coast has got me thinking: how are we prepared to support our community members who experience physical dependency?

I've reached out to some of the hr orgs out there to see what they're doing. Any folks here experiencing this work first hand, or have ideas?

Things I'm learning or considering:

*including beer and nicotine on supply needs lists

*including benadryl on those lists for alcohol and opioid withdrawal support

*many herbalists are offering natural medicines to communities. Utilizing herbalist support

*what about benzo withdrawal?

*engage w folks willing to donate bupe or suboxone

I’ve been injecting ketamine IM for several months now (yes I know that’s very stupid and I do plan to quit). Several of the injection sites on my thigh still hurt when pressed on even after a couple of weeks and I’m wondering why that is. Have I caused my muscle permanent damage? I make sure to spread out my injections over the area and I also only inject maybe 3 times a month on average. The more I do it though, the more trouble I have and the more it hurts. I swear it didn’t hurt at all the first time. What should I do?

I've heard 2 cb referred to as a very gentle psychedelic because it doesn't put you in a strange headspace. I'm sure this is somewhat subjective, but that part of it does seem to be widely agreed upon.

There also seems to be a common feeling of euphoria, and some people liken it to MDMA. I'm hoping this isn't actually a good comparison, and that the euphoria isn't too pronounced. Not that I don't love feeling euphoric, but I have an unlucky brain chemistry that causes me to have very rough reactions to coming down from a state of euphoria.

For example, I've taken MDMA once in my adult life, and I don't know if I'll ever try it again. It was tested, trusted, I dosed responsibly, etc. When I was rolling of course I was having a beautiful time, but the minute I felt it start to slip away, I started panicking. The feeling of the serotonin (or whatever) dropping feels like an existential rollercoaster, and it feels like a panic attack. The comedown itself next day wasn't as bad as the night of the roll, but still, very rough experience coming off it.

Anyway, what I'm trying to find out is if 2cb is actually euphoric in a similar way to a drug like MDMA, or if it's described that way just because of the physical effects. People often say LSD is euphoric, but I've never had that experience. It can be amazing, beautiful, mindblowing, but "euphoric" is not a word I'd use for it.

In short, I'm hoping that the euphoria of 2cb is minimal for the aforementioned reasons. What do you think?

Okay, so I’ve had a question come up at work and I don’t know how to answer it. Wondering if someone can help.

One of the services my job provides is narcan trainings for non-profits/CBOs/city agencies etc. we’ve been trying to schedule a training for a certain department with the city who are not exactly police officers (I guess) but are technically LEOs. The person coordinating it just asked us to clarify if, as LEOs, if they have narcan and are trained, they have a duty to respond based on PA’s title 42 Good Samaritan Act.

I’m not a lawyer, but my argument would kind of encompass a few things: first of all, there isn’t really a duty to respond in the US - but if someone does respond to an emergency situation and then stops responding (like say you start giving CPR but then you just give up and walk away), they could be held liable for harms that then occur. My understanding is that this is because if you start helping, other people might walk by/not stop and help because they see there is assistance there.

Therefore, if someone who is clearly a LEO has arrived in response to an emergency situation, but then does not provide aid (I.e. narcan if someone is overdosing), could it be argued that they have prevented someone else from responding?

Additionally, the Good Samaritan Act says “any person… who in good faith renders emergency care…shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of rendering such care, except in any act or omission intentionally designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts or omissions which result in harm.” By coming on the scene are LEOs assumed to be rendering care? In that care would a failure to administer narcan be potentially considered a “grossly negligent act or omission”?

I want to reiterate that I am not a lawyer and I probably don’t know what I’m talking about, and that all of this probably depends on case law which I don’t think I have access to? But hoping someone here can give me their opinion/perspective/feedback/suggestions for what to say to this person?