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 4 week training course (on Tuesdays & Thursdays in April from 5-8pm)  which features workshops on various topics related to harm reduction, HIV prevention, sexual health and safer partying. We are located at 168 Bathurst Street at Queen West Community Health Centre.

To be eligible for our volunteer program you must:

• be between the ages of 16-30
• be a former or current participant in Toronto's dance music scene
• be able to attend all trainings (all of which occur in downtown Toronto)
  
• jive with our harm reduction philosophy
• have a fun and open attitude, a willingness to learn, and be able to contribute time and energy to the project on a regular basis
  

To indicate your interest in being trained, contact TRIP! by emailing info@tripproject.ca or calling 416-703-8482x125.

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.

Recently, a strange brown powder has resulted in a number of hospitalizations in Owen Sound.  One of our harm reduction service users also had a strong reaction to a similar strange brown powder, and we were able to lend them a testing kit.  The pills tested positive for what might be 5-MeO-DMT, as well as speed.  While there are lots of great posts online about using the DanceSafe Testing kits, it's hard to come across information around the newer research chemicals.  Some research chemicals like piperazines or PMMA which are a very common adulterant do not produce any colour changes depending on the reagent. The Mandelin EZ testing kit does screen for PMMA, so that is probably your best bet for catching this substance.

Others can produce colours that look similar to other drugs, so it's really important to do all of the tests (Mecke, Marquis, Simons Reagant, Mandelin, etc.) to know what is in your pill.  As such, we've take the liberty of sharing some newer research done by the online community of international drug nerds.  Please use the images below to help further determine what adulterants may be lurking in your pill.  Feel free to email us at info@tripproject.ca if you would like to purchase a testing kit in Canada. The following chart shows some of the range of research chemicals that are showing up on the scene, and below are the Mecke, Marquis, Mandelin and Simons Reagant results for some of these chemicals.

 

 

Psychedelics and Phenethylamines

2C-C:
Marquis – yellow, changing to light green, and then fading over
time
Mecke – yellow/brown/green, green fades over time
Mandellin -
clear

2C-B:
Marquis – yellow, changing to green, and then
fading over time
Mecke – yellow/brown
Mandellin – yellow fading to
clear

2C-I:
Marquis – Green-blue with yellow edges, fades to
blue, fades over time
Mecke – dark brown, very fast
Mandellin -
clear

2C-D:
Marquis – Very faint brown, fading to clear.

Mecke – Yellow-brown fading to reddish brown
Mandellin – Yellow w/tinge
of green fades to clear over time

2C-E:
Marquis – Very faint
brown, fading to clear.
Mecke – Dark brown
Mandellin – Yellow w/tinge of
green fades to clear over time

2C-P:
Marquis – Very faint
brown, fading to clear.
Mecke – Yellow-brown fading to Rusty
Brown
Mandellin – Yellow w/tinge of green fades to clear over time
Slow
reactions.

2C-T-2:
Marquis – Almost no reaction, slight brown.

Mecke – Black/dark purple fading to orangy-red
Mandellin – Orange fading
to clear over time

2C-T-4:
Marquis – Almost no reaction,
slight brown.
Mecke – Black/dark purple fading to
reddish-orange
Mandellin – Orange fading to clear over
time

2C-T-7:
Marquis – Almost no reaction, slight brown.

Mecke – Black/dark purple, fading slowly if at all.
Mandellin – Orange
fading to clear over time

 

Beta Ketones and Various RC stimsempathogens

Naphyrone
Marquis – yellow
Mecke – no reaction (kept the brownish
color it had out of bottle)
Mandellin – Clear
Robadope -
Negative
Simons – Negative

Mephedrone, Buphedrone, Ethcathinone, 3
and 4 Flouromethcathinone:
Marquis – no reaction
Mecke – slight
brown, almost no change.
Mandellin – slight browning.
Robadope -
Negative
Simons – Positive

MDPV, MDPPP, Methylone, Butylone:

Marquis – yellow
Mecke – red-brown
Mandellin – clear
Robadope -
Negative
Simons – MDPPP/MDPV Negative, Methylone/Butylone
Positive

Methedrone (DANGER! BAD STUFF!)
Marquis -
yellow-orange
Mecke – orange
Mandellin – orange
Robadope -
Negative
Simons – Positive

6-APB:.

All I know for sure on test results is Robadope should be
positive, and Simons negative.

5-IAI
Marquis -
brown-grey
Mecke – Red
Mandellin – yellow
Robadope -
Positive
Simons – Negative
NOTE: Previous 5-IAI results posted were for
FAKE PRODUCT. The old, inaccurate results have been removed.

4-Flouroamphetamine:
Marquis – no reaction if only
small amount used. If you dump a whole pile of it in, it’ll turn brownish orange.
Mecke – no reaction
Mandellin – no reaction
Robadope -
Positive
Simons – Negative

Desoxypipiradrol
All slow and weak color changes.
Marquis -
brown
Mecke – brown
Mandellin – yellow/brown
Robadope -
Negative
Simons – Negative

MDAI 
Marquis – Light brown to
very dark brown depending on trace impurities.
Mecke – Dark
Brown
Mandellin – Dark Brown
Robadope – Positive
Simons -
Negative

2-Aminoindane
Marquis – no reaction
Mecke -
brown
Mandellin – light blue
Robadope – Positive
Simons -
Negative

Ephedrine 
Sample from BOLT brand single constituant
ephedrine pills.
Marquis – no reaction
Mecke – no reaction
Mandellin -
yellow-orange
Robadope – Negative
Simons – Positive

Caffeine
(anhydrous, USP)
Marquis – no reaction
Mecke – slight
browning
Mandellin – no change
Robadope – Positive
Simons -
Negative

pFPP
Marquis – no reaction
Mecke – slight
browning
Mandellin – no change
Robadope – Negative
Simons – Positive?
It should be positive…

MDAT: 
Not shown.
All reactions slow. Strange colors, changing over time, all colors weak.
Robadope -
Positive
Simons – Negative

 

Synthetic Cannabinoids

 

JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-081
Marquis – Yellow quickly changing to brown

Mecke – Brown/Yellow
Mandellin – Dark
brown

JWH-200
Marquis – Yellow/orange
Mecke -
Yellow
Mandellin – Dark red-brown

JWH-250
Marquis – Red,
fading to orange over time
Mecke – Orange
Mandellin – Dark
grey-brown

AM-694
Marquis – Brown/yellow, hints of green

Mecke – grey/brown
Mandellin – Dark
red-brown

CP-47,497
Marquis – Red/orange
Mecke – Blue,
fading over time.
Mandellin – Brown

CP-55,940
Marquis -
red/orange
Mecke – Blue-green, fading over time
Mandellin -
Brown

 

SEDATIVES

 

 Borrowed from the friendly international drug nerd community!  Thanks everyone for documenting these results. 

 <3TRIP!

 

TRIP Project

Outreach Worker Position

 (24 hours a month; $11/hour)

Part Time 1 year Contract Feb 20, 2012- Feb. 20, 2013 

 

CTCHC is a non-profit, community-based health organization committed to improving the health of community members, particularly those at risk for poverty and discrimination.  Our multi-disciplinary approach includes the provision of primary health/dental care, counseling, harm reduction, community development, advocacy, and innovative partnerships with other organizations.  CTCHC is a leader in the development of inner-city health services and focuses on the needs of homeless and street involved youth, adults, and families in the local area. CTCHC is a pro-choice and gay positive organization committed to employment equity and anti-discrimination. Our facilities are fully accessible.

Position Description    

The TRIP! Project, a project of Central Toronto Community Health Centres (CTCHC), provides safer sex and safer drug use education, information, supplies and referrals, to Toronto’s diverse dance music communities. Working closely with the TRIP! Project Coordinator, this position will be supported to provide peer-based harm reduction education online through social media and onsite at dance music events (parties), and will support project volunteers to provide accurate information on harm reduction, sexual health and safer drug use to the dance music community, local organizations and high schools.

Accountability:

This position will work within a broader Harm Reduction team, and be responsible to the Project Coordinator.

Specific Responsibilities:

·         Provide an average of 1-2 shifts per month of outreach services at dance music events in Toronto each month 

·         Provide appropriately tailored and accurate information on harm reduction, sexual health and safer drug use to the dance music community through onsite outreach and social media outreach, including Facebook, Purerave, Twitter and blogging 

• Work collaboratively with the TRIP! Project Coordinator and other TRIP! Outreach Workers, and participate in the Harm Reduction team and the broader CTCHC as required

• Provide programming support for TRIP! trainings and workshops, including helping with community kitchen 

·         Attend and provide support for monthly outreach meetings, and meetings with the TRIP! Project Coordinator

Also responsible for working in a manner that:

·         Preserves confidentiality and seeks to minimize risk

·         Incorporates health promotion and harm reduction strategies and recognizes the determinants of health

·         Incorporates and strengthens interdisciplinary teamwork and a collaborative approach to the CTCHC’s work

·         Respects and values the diversity of communities and individuals

·         Contributes to CTCHC’s activities to collect, analyze and report on data, participates in research as applicable

·         Communicates clearly, listens accurately, is open to feedback, handles conflict appropriately, displays sensitivity to others.

·         Participates in CTCHC’s commitment to being a discrimination-free health centre.

Qualifications:

·         An active participant of Toronto’s dance music community; strong knowledge of and comfort with party and rave culture, partygoers, and Toronto’s dance music communities 

·         Strong knowledge of HIV, drug use, and related issues, as well as risk and harm reduction strategies Knowledge of harm reduction and the rave/dance music community.

·         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

·         Knowledge and experience using social media (including Twitter, Facebook and Wordpress)

·         Excellent ability to take initiative and work independently, while also working closely with the TRIP Project Coordinator and other TRIP! Outreach Workers

·         Demonstrated ability to support peer volunteers in providing health promotional outreach services

·         Knowledge and experience using social media (including Twitter, Facebook and Wordpress)

·         Positive attitude towards a diverse community

·         Ability to work long night shifts on weekends

·         Ability to express and invests creativity and positive energy into an incredible youth prohect

·         We are particularly seeking applications from qualified members of the groups traditionally under-represented in the workplace and the dance music community

 

Please email cover letter and resume by Mon Feb 13, 2011 @ 5 p.m.

Hiring Committee - Job#QW,

EMAIL ADDRESS:  lkufner@ctchc.com   

For more information about the program, please visit 

http://www.tripproject.ca/trip/

 We regret that only those we wish to interview will be contacted.

 

     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. 

     When they got inside, they had their bags and raincoats placed in coat check and their hands stamped with the abbreviation of “Peace Love Unity Respect”. Vincent turned to Trisha, then over the loud music he yelled, “Go get changed. I will meet you back here in ten minutes.” In the girls’ washroom, Trisha came out of the stall fumbling to get her wavy red hair into a high ponytail while looking into the mirror to see her outfit. A baggy “The Beatles” tank top slightly covered the top of her tie-dye rainbow shorts that had glow sticks hanging off the belt loops down to her knees. She rolled on a pair of multi-colored arm warmers and came out of the washroom and saw Vincent already at the meeting spot. He stood tall with his brown hair spiked, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt with a large blue “V” in the center, with a pair of purple UFO pants.

     Trisha jumped on his back to surprise him, and Vincent carried her off to a smaller room where a few people wearing V.I.P tags were scrambling about the area like a brood of chicken that had just broken free from the farm. Vincent slapped the shoulder of one particular blond girl who was wearing a white bikini top with a short plaid skirt that flowed with her black and white fishnet stockings. She turned impatiently towards him, her thick frames hiding her frowning brow. Looking upon Vincent quickly changed her expression to a delighted ear-to-ear smile as she threw her arms around him and squealed, “V! About damn time you got here, the rest of the crew thought you were ditching your own gig…and who might this be?” She let her grip go on Vincent’s neck and straightened herself up, tilting her head towards the quiet red head standing behind him.

     “The name’s Trisha; I am here on my first night of raving,” she piped up as she held out her hand to be shaken. “My anticipation of tonight couldn’t be contained in this entire establishment.”

     The girl laughed, pushed Trisha’s hand to her side and engulfed her in a chest crushing embrace. She eventually released Trisha from the hug and smiled as she continued the introduction. “My name’s Brittani, but most people around here call me Lollipop. I run Lickin’ The Productions, the company throwing this rave tonight. Do me a favor and come back here to see me later would you?” Trisha nodded with excitement. Suddenly, she froze.

     A hot feeling brewing from her stomach spread throughout her muscles, making her tense up.

     The irresistible urge to clench her teeth made her turn towards Vincent, who looked back at her and studied her stone-like stance. He did not much more than inspect her dilated pupils, nod in understanding, and pull out a baby soother attached to a beaded necklace and put it around Trisha’s neck. “It’s kicked in now. You are probably going to want to head to the dance floor quickly and test out this source of energy. Also, this lovely thing is what will save your tongue and cheeks from being chewed like a dog toy. Don’t tear it apart, just lightly rub your teeth on it to relieve the tension that will be consistently irritating your jaw, otherwise you’re going to have an all-around sore mouth tomorrow morning. This was all being said while he showed Trisha the way back towards the hallway and pointed towards the source of the thumping bass, a doorway where strings of blue and green LED light seemed to dance onto the wall across from it. She gave a slight frown at him, and he smiled and patted her shoulder while he leaned in and mumbled, “Go explore, dance, and enjoy the music. You will see me on stage in the next twenty minutes.”

     Walking, breathing, every natural human performance felt new in some way. Trisha’s first step into the dance room and the rhythms of heavy, wobbling bass, repeating percussion and a tempo that could result in broken feet were all swimming through her body like she was the sub-woofer. Stunned for a second, she recollected herself and rushed over to a spot near the front stage. Observing the dancing of the people around her, she began mimicking little things she found interesting, eventually finding a comfortable method of her own. She started catching up to the speed of the electronic music. Holy mother of earth, I feel like I could dance for eternity, she thought. The tempo of the music began to steadily drop, and the song changed so drastically that anyone could tell the genre had switched, meaning, VINCENT! she screamed in her mind as she turned to face the stage.

     High up on the stage was a confident and concentrated Vincent, who had put on a bright green visor that had the brim decorated with crafty beads and shapes. He built up the beat to a speedy tempo that got the entire room moving in unison. Trisha felt as if her heart was connecting to the feeling he was putting into the happy electronic music blaring through the giant speakers on the stage positioned towards the crowd. Pulse racing and forehead sweating, Trisha stepped aside to lean against a wall and checked the time to conclude that the set was almost over. She started towards the doorway to the hallway, but her vision became a spinning merry-go-round.

     She reached for the wall, a numbing feeling spreading from her hands through her arms to her chest.

     The numbing hit her feet, and she collapsed.

     Her name in the distance, a wave of cold water on her face and bright concentrated light on her eyes brought Trisha back to life. She was laying down on a folded blanket on the floor of the small room she was in previous to the dance room, and straining to adjust her vision, she threw her hand in front to block the light from her eyes. “Okay, that’s enough back off now. Look at her! She’s awake. Give her a minute!” exclaimed the concerned Vincent, who was kneeling over her. Trisha slowly rose from her corpse-like position and chugged back water from a bottle Vincent had pushed towards her. “This here bottle could have saved you from what happened earlier. I sincerely regret not informing you about keeping hydrated with the current physical state that you have.” He turned his attention to Lollipop, who was standing at the other side of the room. “I need to grab my CDs and headphones; will you accompany her for a while?” She nodded as he set off for the dance room.

     Lollipop strutted over and gave a slight giggle when she looked down to Trisha. “Goodness gracious! You sure worked yourself to exhaustion in there. It’s been a long time since any of us have seen someone faint in a place like this.” She paused and walked towards the counter, then spun back around with a box wrapped in paper with neon swirls hand drawn everywhere and continued, “When you’re feeling up to it, you may open this. Only people who come to my events as their first experience receive such a gift. I do hope we meet again.” She gently set the box by Trisha’s knees and got up from the floor. Turning to walk out the door, she added, “You should be alright now; Vincent’s on his way now. Ciao!” Trisha waved and snapped her attention to the box.

     Using her nail, she cut along the paper and opened the box. Inside contained some pamphlets on Safe Raving & After-partying, beside it was a small bag with condoms, lube and a straw. She slowly took items out one by one and underneath the pamphlets and bag was a card containing a happy face on the front, which had a slight bulge in it. She opened the card and three colorful beaded bracelets fell out. She started to read the card as she put on the bracelets. The card read: Congratulations on your first rave. I hope you had a wonderful time and will continue to come out and see how beautiful this scene can be. Our next event will be on December 17th, a Christmas themed rave. For more information please send an email to Lollipop@LickintheProductions@gmail.com. Sincerely, Lollipop

     Hearing the shuffling footsteps that was Vincent, Trisha quickly gathered all the things she had taken out of the box and assembled it all back in and closed it. Vincent ran with his hands full of DJ equipment into the room and emptied his load onto the counter. Breathing quickly and deeply, he caught his breath and regained himself as he proceeded to sit beside Trisha. As he sat, she grabbed the box and adjusted herself against the wall. They looked at each other and exchanged smiles. She held the box close to her. He understood.

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.

TRIP scoured bars, clubs and party goers for the information of 334 participants over the year of  2010, ranging from as far north as Newmarket and as far south as Hamilton, polling them about their habits when they go to a bar or club. The range of questions included: Do they pre-drink or just hit the bar, do they drink water before, during, or after? What goes wrong most often, and what do the bars (in the average users humble opinion) need to change?

One of the big trends noticed was the number of people pre-drinking. More and more this habit has become popular, being just what it sounds like: pre-drinking means having a couple of drinks at home before heading out to the bar.  90% of people polled said they had at least one or two drinks beforehand, while half of the pre-drinkers reported they had three to five drinks before heading out. A fifth reported having between 5-10 drinks, and smaller percentages reporting upwards of 10. The major reason for pre-drinking in the survey was apparently to save money. Pre-bar socializing came a close second reason.

However, when one arrives to the pub, there can come a time when they think to themselves, “Maybe I shouldn't have had that tenth shot of tequila.” How do the others, as a group, know when to refuse drinks, if they are just as drunk? According to the polls, 62% of participants “knew” when they “felt drunk enough” to stop themselves, and their friends, from reaching to the point some like to call, “heading to your happy place”. 36% of the participants in the polls seemed braver, though, and stopped drinking as soon as they felt ill (which is probably the preferable thing to do). Lastly, a stalwart 32% of individuals only ceased drinking when the bar issued last call.

Apparently, most youth in the GTA take one step further than drinking alcohol when they have a night out with friends. 80% of participants in the survey reported illicit drug use while in a bar or club. Of those people, 88% are more likely to be men who get high at the bar, versus 74% of women. A substantial amount of youth is following this trend of illicit drug use, with 76% being under eighteen. The substances that are most likely to be used are amphetamine-type substances, such as meth and MDMA/ecstasy; and hallucinogen-type substances, such as ketamine, or cannabis.

Of course, when one spends a night out with friends, it is common to wonder what the neighbours must be thinking. Well, apparently, 57% of individuals polled are mindful of local residents, while 27% are only mindful in relation to how drunk they were. A smaller group reported that they did not see entertainment districts as residential, so were not mindful at all. The results between youth from Toronto and youth from outside the city are identical, which might be surprising to some people.

Upon asking what the biggest problems usually were, a few common headaches became clear. Most of the polled participants gave personal problems with injury, loss of personal items, and illness as their top three answers. Two interesting facts also arose: Firstly, frequent pre-drinkers were more likely to report harms and injuries. Also, those under eighteen, and those over thirty, had the lowest percentage of substance overdose or alcohol poisoning.

The lesson taken away from this survey seems to be that if you go out clubbing or just out to a bar is that if you pre-drink, be careful of how much you have before heading out and keep track of yourself  and your belongings as the night goes on. Easy ways to help this are to drink water between rounds, have a drinking buddy to check in with every so often, and as always, know your mind, know your body, and know your source (or in this case, your bar).

 

 

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.

That's because the Mixmag / Guardian Drugs survey is where the world goes to find out real peoples' attitudes to and experience of drugs, and the medical, social and law enforcement consequences of drug use. The survey has been used by doctors, academics, and even governments across the planet to understand drug trends, to influence policy and to inform their decisions.

The analysis is performed by a team of doctors and scientists, using the highest professional research standards, to get to the real truth about drugs.

The results of this survey will be published in the April 2012 issue of Mixmag, at mixmag.net, and in the Guardian's UK [http://www.guardian.co.uk] and US [ http://www.guardiannews.com ] online editions.

For any questions please contact Dr Adam R Winstock at adam.winstock@kcl.ac.uk.

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!  

PART 1: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TD6F532
PART 2: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RP6TCYD
PART 3: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TD2ZJG8

Note: Links to parts 2 and 3 are contained in the survey.

 

Recreational drug use has become a common source of entertainment and enjoyment here in Toronto. From drugs like alcohol and tobacco to drugs like ecstasy and heroin. Unfortunately, most health campaigns geared at youth are fear-based and speak only of abstinence with captions like “Just say no”. What the promoters of these campaigns fail to recognize is that people are curious and many will use drugs either way. Instead of this abstinence-only approach, information should be provided to encourage those who choose to use drugs to use them in a safer manner, thus reducing harm. 

“Harm reduction” is the term used to describe the practice of spreading techniques and information with the purpose of improving quality of life and reducing chance of injury. Accidental deaths from motor vehicle accidents make up 32% of deaths in Canada in 2004 (Stats Canada). However, you don’t see campaigns that say “Just say no” regarding driving. Instead, there is a law in Ontario that says you must wear a seat belt when in a personal, motorized vehicle - this is a form of harm reduction. 

Like the car drivers, youth are going to use drugs regardless whether society shakes a finger at them or not. Health education should be focusing on actually educating, rather than trying to scare people into stopping. We should be educating youth about the risks associated with drug use and try to empower them to use critical thinking and make informed decisions that will better their mind and body. The main goal of harm reduction is to lower risk levels of current drug users, as well as getting these individuals familiarized with health care services (including recovery upon request). Harm reduction education can also minimize drug misuse/abuse within society, improving over health in our communities. At the end of the day, you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped and labelling people as “addicts” and “junkies” does not help the situation. When people are sharing needles, straws, and pipes the greatest risk is the diseases, viruses, and infections that can be transmitted in this manner, NOT the drugs. Educating these users on how to use drugs in a safer manner and where clean needs are available could be the way to save many lives, and maybe even rehabilitate people. 

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!

5 PM: TOTALLY RAD SEX ED WALKING TOUR! SEXY RESOURCES, COOL CENTRES AND MORE
- We will be visiting a number of sexual resource centres that cater specifically to youth as we make our way to Queen West Community Health Centre.
- Chalk art and conversation along the way!

*We’ll be travelling to Queen West Community Health Centre by foot. If you want to travel with us, but require supports to do so, contact us and we can make accommodations.*

6 PM: HARM REDUCTION MOVIES, DINNER AND MORE AT QUEEN WEST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE! [168 BATHURST ST]
- ALL ARE WELCOME to a film screening on HIV/AIDS!
(NOTE: while space is limited for the walking tour and dinner, all are welcome to view the films at 6:30)
FILMS:
- Empower Digital Stories: 8 short films produced by youth through the Empower project that deal with diverse themes surrounding HIV/AIDS and the social determinants of health
- Candlelight Vigil at the Russian Embassy: a short interview documentary with activists about the need for harm reduction programs to fight HIV/AIDS

SEXY DOOR PRIZES TO BE WON!

THIS EVENT IS YOUTH-FOCUSED IN AN LGTBQ POSITIVE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACE.

SPACE IS LIMITED! You are welcome to join us for the walking tour, films, or both. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER CONTACT: thegaapproject@gmail.com
(Please register! RSVPing to the Facebook event does not mean you are registered!)

This event is funded by the New College Principal's Innovation Fund.

 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.

Now, you don't need to tell me I'm luck that I didn't “get hurt” that night. Because I did, I got very hurt. I got all sorts of hurt, the kind of hurt that lasts for years and resurfaces particularly painfully when you're asked to write something about sexual assault and nightlife. What had prompted me to leave in a hurry, such hurry that I had left my purse sitting on a bench where I had placed it so I could attempt to dance, was aggressive touching and kissing from someone had that I had had a brief and somewhat forced relationship with in the past. I remember trying to break lose, and the grip only tightening. 

The thing with nightlife, especially in Toronto, is that there is no escaping the past. You will see the same people over and over again, and you can never know if the night will bring an unwanted encounter. You may be uncomfortably caught in a dark room, yelling no over the music, always hoping that they acted because they simply never heard you. Those whom you thought had disappeared, will reappear. You may be left vulnerable and alone when you try to escape, and the people who will see you may never know what happened. But they will think that what they know is that your skirt was too short, you were breast were too big, and you were wearing too much make up.

The records get erased. Reviews, and pictures rarely hold the truth about the dark side of the night. When it comes down to it, talking about sexual assault is “bad for business” and nightlife is supposed to be business that revolves around fantasy and fun, a refuge from the day. The biggest lie is that the complications of day won't seep in to the night. The reality is that they do. The same inequitable gender dynamics that live during the day do not die at night. And I believe that we've had enough.

I think it's time to talk.