Drug checking is a valuable public health tool and Johns Hopkins University agrees

A new study by Johns Hopkins University published online in the Journal of Psychopharmacology concludes that individuals were significantly less likely to report intent to consume a substance marketed as MDMA if the substance did not test as such. Results also suggest that Molly is not a less-adulterated substance, as discussed in this week's #MythBusterMonday blog post. The study used data collected by DanceSafe from on-site drug checking conducted at events between July 2010 and July 2015. The data was collected by DanceSafe volunteers Dr. Sarah Saleemi, researcher and physician at University of Illinois Chicago hospital, Dr. Steven Pennybaker, researcher and...

July 12, 2017Read more...

Let’s get it straight: there is only one ‘type’ of MDMA

The media jumps the gun, and gets it wrong, once again. 'A new type of MDMA' turns out to be a synthetic cannabinoid. Often after adverse medical incidents, the media will push the narrative that a new 'type' of MDMA caused a specific incident. But lets be very, very clear. There are no 'types' of MDMA. A substance is either MDMA, or it's another drug that was misrepresented as MDMA. This is the exact modern equivalent of people in the 1930's who died after drinking industrial methanol sold as 'whiskey', and the cause is the same: Prohibition. Although it is possible to have...

June 29, 2017Read more...

Music is the Drug: The Sober Festival Experience

First, let me put this out there: this piece isn’t intended to be pro-sobriety or pro-drugs. I am proudly pro-choice in this matter. I believe each of us is entitled to make our own decisions and learn along the way—it’s your life and your journey! That being said, I will always advocate for everyone to be well-informed, so you can make those choices to the best of your ability. Maybe that means being savvy and taking those tabs you brought to the DanceSafe tent for testing. Maybe that means deciding you don’t want the extra bump or dose that everyone else...

April 26, 2017Read more...

April 18th #TestItTuesday Alert: Celebrate Safer This Bicycle Day

It's #TestItTuesday! Today, we are discussing LSD and drug checking in honor of Bicycle Day tomorrow and also offering (for this week only) 10% off anything in our store, including test kits, using the coupon code thanksdoc! On April 19, 1943, Dr. Albert Hofmann became the first person to intentionally ingest LSD. After consuming 250 micrograms (what he believed would be a threshold dose, but is actually nearly 3 times the amount of most modern LSD blotters), he began to experience a deeply altered state. Because the use of motor vehicles was restricted during the war, him and his assistant rode...

April 18, 2017Read more...

DanceSafe Launches Online Training Program

Recently, we launched our DanceSafe Training Program which allows us to train new volunteers at a distance - in the US or abroad - via online courses. We are excited to report that the big news just got BIGGER! As of today, the DanceSafe Training Program is being open to the public! That’s right. If you are interested in becoming a DanceSafe Volunteer and joining a local chapter or starting your own, you can get started right now by enrolling in Module 1: How to Become a DanceSafe Volunteer at http://the-dancesafe-school.teachable.com. Potential volunteers can look forward to learning about topics such as...

January 26, 2017Read more...

EDM Coalition Calls for Updated Safety Practices and Harm Reduction Model as Solution to Ultra Music Festival’s Troubles

Electronic Music Alliance (EMA) has recently helped form an EDM specific “safer party life” coalition of several established groups who have been working within the festival and event safety sphere for years to create more intra-dialogue and action for industry safety best practices, to address alcohol and other drug use with health-centered educational messages, and provide onsite harm reduction. These groups include DanceSafe, the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Mutual Aid Response (MARS), Zendo Project, The Festival Lawyer, and AFP Creative.

April 10, 2014Read more...