A little library of safer use handouts/literature created by us and other harm reduction groups. Below you will find these handouts categorized into the following topics: the basics, drug supply, administration, and drug specific.
~The Basics~
- Safe Use Tips > Some tips from us for you around safer use, because we love you! Written by Southside Harm Reduction Services
~Drug Supply~
- Xyla-Zine: A Guidebook > New education from us about Xylazine. This resource was written with the intention for people to learn from a de-stigmatized lens and with care. We know this information will change, such as substances do. This is our first volume and hope to continue in time. We acknowledge that the best answer to Xylazine poisoning is access to a safe and regulated supply of drugs for all. Written by Southside Harm Reduction Services
- Facts About Fentanyl > The Drug Policy Alliance’s fentanyl fact sheet which reviews what is fentanyl and it’s effects on the body, overdose, dependence, treatment options, harm reduction practices for people who use fentanyl, and drug policy
~Administration~
Below is a list of categorized safe use tips depending on your preferred routes of administration
Administration Transitions
- Transitioning Routes of Administration > From snorting to injecting to smoking to eating to booty bumping, these guides will walk through the risks and pros of each approach and transitioning. Written by NextDistro
Boofing
- Booty Bumping 101 > Mini zine that provides information on what booty bumping is, the supplies you need, safe use tips, and a step by step guide. Written by Southside Harm Reduction Services
Snorting/Nasal Administration
- Safer Snorting Tips > Some hot tips on safer snorting practices. Written by Southside Harm Reduction Services
- How to Prepare Nasal Sprays for Drug Use > In this resource, NextDistro shares how to use a nasal spray to accurately dose or use drugs including materials needed, a calculator to help with measurements, and reason to use a nasal spray. Written by NextDistro
Inhalation/Smoking
- Safer Inhaling > An informational guide from the Ontario Harm Reduction Network that covers safer smoking using a variety of glass pipes and foil.
- Safer Smoking: Making a foil hooter > An informational guide from the Ontario Harm Reduction Network that covers safer smoking using a variety of glass pipes and foil.
Injection
- Choosing The Best Rig > Know when to use what with this little guide on selecting the best rig depending on what you are shooting, where you are shooting, how often you are rotating spots, and more. Written by Southside Harm Reduction Services
- Getting Off Right > A safety manual for people who inject drugs by The Harm Reduction Coalition
- The Safer Injecting Handbook 9th Edition > A complete to the risks of injecting and how to avoid them. Essential reading for PWUD and needle exchange workers. Written by Andrew Preston and John Derricott
- Adjusting the Length of a Syringe > How to adjust the length of a syringe needle if you’re in a pinch or need a larger gauge in a shorter size. Collaboration between the Virginia Harm Reduction Center and NextDistro
- Safer Tablet Injection > A resource for anyone injecting tablets/pills and would like to do so more safely. Written by BCCBC Harm Reduction Services
- Slamming > This resource was written for gay men but provides helpful tips for issues that arise from the slamming scene in an accessible and accurate way that is helpful to individuals regardless of their sexual orientation. Written by Leon Knoops and Ingrid Bakker
~Drug Specific~
Below is a list of information and safe use practices for different substances
Alcohol
- Alcohol 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
Meth
- Hot Rails > This resource explains what are hot rails, why do them, how to do them, and general harm reduction tips about hot rails. Written by NextDistro
- Acetone Wash > Acetone Wash for safer meth use. Written by Northpoint In ‘n’ Out
- Safer Meth Smoking > How to smoke meth as safely as possible. Written by NextDistro
- Safer Smoking – Meth > Safer meth smoking handout courtesy of Northpoint, Mpls
- Facts About Meth > The Drug Policy Alliance’s meth fact sheet which reviews what meth is and it’s effects on the body, poly-use, overdose, dependence, treatment options, harm reduction practices for people who use meth, and drug policy
- Meth 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
Crack/Rock and Cocaine
- Cooking Down Crack for Injection > In this resource, NextDistro shares how to cook down crack for injection using pure citric acid, pure ascorbic acid, or 100% vitamin C powder. Written by NextDistro
- Safer Crack/Rock Smoking > How to smoke rock/crack cocaine as safely as possible
- Safer Smoking Crack > Written by Northpoint, mpls
- Cocaine 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Facts About Cocaine > The Drug Policy Alliance’s cocaine fact sheet which reviews what cocaine is and it’s effects on the body, sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine, poly-use and it’s interactions with opioids, overdose, dependence, treatment options, harm reduction practices for people who use cocaine, and drug policy
Benzos
- Harm Reduction Tips for Benzos > A fact sheet by Harm Reduction Action Center with information about and recommendations for benzodiazepine use
Fentanyl
- Fentanyl Use and Overdose Prevention Tips > A factsheet created by The Dope Project on fentanyl
Tranq/Xylazine
- Tranqdope > What is it? Informational handout written by Florida Harm Reduction Collective
- Facts About Xylazine > The Drug Policy Alliance’s xylazine fact sheet which reviews what xylazine is and it’s effects on the body, side effects, the current drug supply, poly-use and it’s interactions with opioids, overdose, dependence, treatment options, harm reduction practices for people who use cocaine, and drug policy
- Xylazine > Educational handout written by NextDistro
Methadone
- Injecting Methadone > Information about safer injection of Methadone. Written by Northpoint In ‘n’ Out
& More!
- Heroin 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Facts About Heroin > The Drug Policy Alliance’s heroin fact sheet which reviews what heroin is and it’s effects on the body, the current drug supply, overdose, dependence, treatment options, harm reduction practices for people who use heroin, and drug policy
- Facts about LSD > The Drug Policy Alliance’s LSD fact sheet which reviews what LSD is, it’s cultural history, LSD effects, psychedelic therapies, microdosing, risks, and harm reduction practices for people who use LSD
- Facts about Synthetic Cathinones > The Drug Policy Alliance’s bath salt fact sheet which reviews what is bath salts and it’s effects, risks, legalities, and harm reduction practices for people who engage in synthetic cathinones use
- GHB 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Magic Mushrooms 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Facts About Psilocybin Mushrooms > The Drug Policy Alliance’s magic mushrooms fact sheet which reviews what psilocybin is and it’s effects, risks, medicinal value, and harm reduction practices for people who do shrooms
- Nitrous Oxide 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Poppers 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- MDMA 101 > Educational handout written by Dance Safe
- Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Tool > This piece is based on stories of the Metzineres community and illustrated by Andre Gaetano