DIY drug testing at Dragon Dreaming: An anonymous field report
Amid the rolling waves of psy trance dugga-dugga-dugga at Dragon Dreaming Festival, an anonymous community member roamed the crowd, testing people’s drugs under the radar. Undertaken with home reagent testing kits, it wasn’t a legal venture. Users News spoke to this harm reduction crusader about why they chose to test punters’ drugs and what they discovered
HOW WE CAN WE MAKE FESTIVALS SAFER FOR WOMEN? - Irene Squires
3 ways we can reduce instances of sexual based harm, facilitate safe spaces for women at music festivals, and develop a community we are all proud of.
Liza’s story: Wandering Woman's Web
Just because the 'love and universal oneness' vibe is peaking, doesn't mean that everybody has pure intentions. There are still opportunistic dickheads out there.
Everyday Superheroes: Peers at Work
“Peer Worker” is an emerging role in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) space in NSW. Not only has research shown how valuable peer education and support is, services using peer workers see the difference every day as more consumers come through their doors to have more respectful and relevant interactions.
COMMUNITY TIES: WHY PEER-BASED PROGRAMS WORK
DanceWize NSW co-ordinator Georgina Bell, who has seen first-hand the difference that harm reduction services make on the ground at festivals, raves and bush doofs.
BUSTED: ‘What happens when you get caught with drugs at a festival in NSW?
Uh oh – you’ve been caught with drugs in your possession at a festival in NSW. What happens next depends on a few things…
Busted @ DEFQON.1: Charlee’s Story
“Out the back they had the strip search tents set up, and a female cop waiting for me in one. She told me I had to take all my clothes off, and then said she needed me to squat and cough.”
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT! -MOLLY'S MULTIDAY FESTIVAL GUIDE
“Thousands of ravers have gone before you, making these same mistakes – so heed my warnings and hopefully you don’t have to!”
UNDERGROUND, ABOVE & BEYOND: HARM REDUCTION IN THE UNREGULATED DOOF SCENE
Users News sat down with Phill, one of the individuals behind Origins of Entropy, to discuss the role that festival organisers have in reducing harm at their events