Harm Reduction Guide

🧬 Core Harm Reduction Principles

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies designed to reduce the negative consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence. It is evidence-based, non-judgmental, and grounded in decades of public health research. The following principles apply regardless of substance, frequency, or experience level.

• Test before you ingest — chemical testing is non-negotiable
• Start low, go slow — always begin well below a threshold dose
• Never use alone — have a trusted person present or on call
• Research interactions — check TripSit before combining any substances
• Have naloxone accessible — any time opioids or unknown substances are involved
• Set and setting — environment profoundly affects the safety and nature of an experience

🧪 Reagent Testing

Reagent tests use chemical reactions to provide presumptive identification of substances. They are inexpensive, widely available, and can distinguish between expected substances and dangerous adulterants. A positive test does not guarantee purity or safety, but a negative or unexpected reaction is a critical warning sign.

Essential Test Kits

• Marquis Reagent: Primary test for MDMA, amphetamines, opiates. MDMA produces purple → black reaction. Orange/brown indicates amphetamine.
• Mecke Reagent: Secondary confirmation for opioids and MDMA. Confirms or contradicts Marquis results.
• Froehde Reagent: Useful for identifying a broader range of phenethylamines and tryptamines.
• Simon's Reagent: Differentiates between MDA and MDMA (only MDMA turns blue).
• Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS): Immunoassay strips that detect fentanyl and most fentanyl analogues. Recommended for all substances regardless of claimed content — fentanyl contamination is not limited to opioids.

How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips

Dissolve a small residue of the substance (approximately 10mg) in a teaspoon of water. Dip the strip for 15 seconds, then lay flat for 2–5 minutes. One line = fentanyl detected. Two lines = negative. Never consume a substance that tests positive for fentanyl unless you have extensive naloxone access and an experienced, alert companion present.

⚖️ Accurate Dosing

Precision Scale Requirements

For any substance where active doses are measured in milligrams, a precision scale accurate to 0.001g (1mg) is mandatory. Standard kitchen scales accurate only to 1g are entirely inadequate. Milligram scales are inexpensive — not owning one is a serious safety gap.

Volumetric Dosing

For highly potent substances where doses are in the microgram range (e.g. LSD, certain research chemicals), volumetric dosing is required. Dissolve a known quantity into a measured volume of solvent (typically water or alcohol), then measure precise aliquots using a calibrated syringe. This is the only reliable method for sub-milligram dosing.

Start Low, Go Slow

For any new substance or new batch from an existing vendor, start with a sub-threshold allometric dose (typically 1/10 of a standard dose). Wait the full expected duration before considering any redosing. Potency varies significantly between batches even from reputable vendors — your previous experience with a substance does not predict this batch's potency.

🚑 Naloxone (Narcan)

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid overdose. It is safe, effective, and increasingly available over-the-counter in many countries. If any opioids — or any substances that might be adulterated with opioids — are present, naloxone must be accessible.

How to Administer Intranasal Naloxone

1. Confirm signs of opioid overdose: unconscious, slow/stopped breathing, blue lips, unresponsive to stimulation
2. Call emergency services immediately
3. Insert nasal atomiser into one nostril and administer the full dose (2mg/2mL)
4. If no response in 2–3 minutes, administer a second dose in the other nostril
5. Place person in recovery position to prevent choking
6. Stay until emergency services arrive — naloxone wears off in 30–90 minutes and the opioid effect may return

Naloxone Availability

In the United States, naloxone is available without prescription at major pharmacies. In the UK it is available from harm reduction services and many pharmacies. DanceSafe and local needle exchange programs in most countries distribute naloxone for free. There is no legitimate reason not to have it available if any opioid risk exists.

🧫 Drug Interactions

Some drug combinations are dangerous at any dose. The following combinations carry severe or life-threatening risk:

Always check TripSit Combination Chart (tripsit.me/combo) before combining any two substances. When in doubt, do not combine.