DanceSafe Affiliate Guidelines

These guidelines are to help you create social media posts, blog posts, or articles when you advertise our products. They generally fall into three categories: 1) Don’t exaggerate what testing kits are capable of doing; 2) Don’t promote irresponsible drug use or be a drug chauvinist; and 3) Don’t be racist, sexist, trans- or homophobic.

1. Don’t exaggerate the capabilities of the testing kits

When used properly, colormetric reagent kits are capable of detecting the presence of certain drugs in a drug sample. This can include the primary substance as well as (sometimes) an adulterant or “cut.” However, they cannot detect all potential substances that might be in a sample. Some drugs won’t produce a color change at all, and drugs that produce a dark color change might overshadow drugs that produce a lighter color change. What this means is that reagent testing kits cannot detect purity!

This is important to understand because it is tempting to call these kits “purity tests.” But if you do, you will be spreading false information. Reagent kits are useful because they can tell you that the drug you are looking for is present in your sample (in some amount), and they can weed out counterfeit pills and powders that definitely don’t contain the drug you are looking for. But they cannot tell you if your drugs are pure. (Warning: Some for-profit kit sellers make this claim and other false claims. Do not believe them, and do not copy their language.)

Similarly, don’t make claims that a positive result means the drugs tested are “good” or “safe.” Even if they are pure (which reagents cannot determine), no drug use is 100% safe. All drug use has inherent risks. And a positive drug experience depends on many other things besides purity, such as dose, set and setting.

Some things NOT to say when advertising our reagent kits:

• “Make sure your MDMA (or any drug) is pure.”
• “Make sure your MDMA is good.”
• “Make sure your MDMA is safe.”
• “Test the purity of your MDMA.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t make general statements about safety. For example . . .

Some things you can say when advertising our kits:

• “Be safe! Test it before you ingest it.”
• “Watch out for counterfeit MDMA!”
• “Be responsible and test your shit!”
• “Safety first. Testing kits save lives.”

Feel free to get creative in your advertising, but be careful not to misrepresent the capabilities of reagent testing. In general, anything published on our website or in our printed materials are fine to use when advertising our products. Be careful, however, not to repeat false claims from other for-profit testing kit sellers.

2. Don’t promote irresponsible drug use or be a drug chauvinist

DanceSafe is nonjudgmental when it comes to drug use. We recognize that psychoactive drugs can be both fun and beneficial when used responsibly. However, there is a big difference between promoting responsible drug use and promoting drug use irresponsibly. In applying to become a DanceSafe affiliate, you are also agreeing to become a representative for harm reduction.

This means your social media posts and other advertisements for DanceSafe products will be viewed by the public as a reflection not only on DanceSafe, but on the movement as a whole. So please be careful in your language. For example, do not brag about the amount or variety of drugs you’ve consumed. We call this “drug machismo,” and not only is it unbecoming, but it contributes to a dangerous culture of excess. Not all drugs are for everyone, and everyone’s dose is different.

Similarly, harm reduction respects and upholds the dignity of all people who use drugs. There are not “good” drugs and “bad” drugs. There are just drugs, and all drugs have risks and benefits. The risks may be different depending on the drug. But so are the benefits. And the risks and benefits differ between people as well. So just because you like one drug and not another, doesn’t mean the drug you like is better than the one someone else likes (although it might be better for you). So be careful not to use judgmental language. Don’t be a drug chauvinist.

And lastly, although this might go without saying, do not use derogatory language when referring to those who have developed problems associated with their drug use. People who get into trouble with drugs deserve as much respect as anyone else, and we won’t tolerate insulting language towards these members of our community. This includes the term “addict.” Referring to people as addicts simply because they have a problematic relationship with drugs minimizes how complex this relationship can be, and promotes the false idea that all problematic drug use is the same thing as addiction. People who use drugs are people first and foremost, always.

3. Don’t be a racist, sexist, trans or homophobic asshole.

DanceSafe is an inclusive organization that values and respects the civil rights of everyone. We will not tolerate racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic attitudes among our affiliates, and we reserve the right to discontinue any affiliate relationship at any time for any reason.