DanceSafe is a nonprofit, harm reduction organization promoting health and safety within the rave and nightclub community. We currently have local chapters throughout the US and Canada. Our local chapters consist of young people from within the dance culture itself who have a sincere interest in bettering their communities and educating themselves and their peers. We train our volunteers to be health educators and drug abuse prevention counselors within their own communities, utilizing the principles and methods of harm reduction and popular education.
Our volunteers staff harm reduction booths at raves, nightclubs and other dance events where they provide information on drugs, safer sex, and other health and safety issues concerning the electronic dance community (like driving home safely and protecting one's hearing).
We also provide adulterant screening or pill testing services for ecstasy users. Pill testing is an important harm reduction service that saves lives and reduces medical emergencies by helping ecstasy users avoid fake and adulterated tablets that often contain substances far more dangerous than real ecstasy.
Our information and services are directed primarily towards non-addicted, recreational drug users. Non-addicted drug users are an under-served population within the harm reduction movement, despite the fact that they comprise the vast majority of drug users in our society. While many organizations exist that provide services to drug-dependent individuals, few groups address the needs of the majority of non-addicted, recreational users. We hope to fill this gap. When needed, we will always refer people to appropriate treatment programs.
Starting a DanceSafe Chapter
"How do I start a DanceSafe chapter in my area?"
A DanceSafe chapter is a group of individuals who care about others in there communities specific to but not limited to electronic music. Starting a chapter takes a little work, and a little networking and the rewards are endless. DanceSafe is a national non-profit organization that was started back in 1999 in the Oakland / Bay area in California. DanceSafe is based on both harm reduction and popular education. Our volunteers are peer educators.
STEP 1:
CONTACT OUR NATIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTOR
888.MDMA411 ext #2 or email startachapter@dancesafe.org
To schedule a meeting time
STEP 2:
FIND OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO HELP START A CHAPTER & HAVE A MEETING
Find a few others that share the same interest in starting a DanceSafe chapter with you. Once you have found a few others get together and have a meeting. Four or five is a perfect size group to start with. Having too many people can be difficult to coordinate and manage. Have the meeting at someones house or a local cafe, and simply discuss what it is you want to do and goals you and your group would like to achieve. You may want to choose a name for the group and delegated responsibilities to individuals within the group. Someone needs to be the contact person for the national office, most likely yourself or the person who took the most initiative to start the group. After your first meeting, e-mail a report to startachapter@dancesafe.org and let us know how it went.
STEP 3:
SCHEDULE A SKYPE VIDEO TRAINING / MEETING SESSION
These video training sessions are an opportunity for you to meet DanceSafe’s Trainer & Outreach Coordinator. We will answer any questions you might have about the organization. We will go over DanceSafe as an organization and the principals we are based on as well as the many services we provide. There will be some basic training on harm reduction, outreach set-up, club drugs, and pill testing. Depending on your groups goals some topics may need more attention than other topics. Groups will have more than one training session to go over these topics. Depending on your groups goals and what topics you need to be trained on will determine how many sessions will be needed. Each group is different and after the initial session we will have a better idea of how much additional training your group needs.
STEP 4:
GET YOUR OUTREACH MATERIALS TOGETHER
The items you will need to put together a basic harm reduction / information station is information. DanceSafe has 15 different drug info cards with a eye catching design on one side and the same basic information about the drug on the other side. Safe sex literature is always a good thing to have at an information station and condoms are always a favorite with the event goers. Earplugs, candy, testing kits and a donation jar are all good things to have at the table. Pill charts from ecstasydata.org are always a good addition to the table, and since they are updated monthly you always have some new information to offer. A banner or sign might be helpful so people can identify your group. Extension cords and x-mas lights are helpful if the table is going to be set up in the dark. First aid kit is also something that maybe very helpful.
STEP 5:
FIND AN UPCOMING EVENT FOR YOUR FIRST BOOTH
Once you have your information station materials together, find an event that you would like to set up at and contact the promoter. Make sure the event is a few weeks away because we do not want to ask the day before an event because that makes us look unorganized and unprofessional. So make sure the event is a few weeks out and ask the promoter if you could come set up a harm reduction and information station table at their next event. The majority of promoters will welcome your presence at their events and the attendees are always glad to see your table. If the event is successful and the promoter enjoyed what you contributed to the event you can consider asking them for a donation to cover literature or other costs. Remember, your benefiting the event and the people that attend the event by having the information station and harm reduction services available at events.
STEP 6:
SETTING UP YOUR FIRST INFORMATION STATION
The most important thing to remember is that you don't need to be an expert. If someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer that's okay. Popular education means, as peers, we all learn together. Basic do's and don'ts regarding staffing a harm reduction booth. After the event fill out an event report.
STEP 7:
HAVE ANOTHER MEETING
