Harm Reduction: 201
Over the last couple years I've had the opportunity to volunteer, and more recently work with an awesome group of people that call themselves the TRIP! Project. We meet monthly to share trends in our community, talk about how we can confront the key issues and go out to Raves, Festivals and Electronic Dance Music (EDM) events to spread knowledge about safer sex and safer drug use practices. Basically, I get paid to party while teaching people how to party safe.
When it comes to drugs there's two main viewpoints. Abstinence (Drugs are bad, Mmkay...), and Harm Reduction. Harm reduction means many things, and we practice it in many forms that most people probably don't consider (Ex, bike helmets or seat belts). Using barriers (condoms, dental dams or gloves) when you fuck, and not sharing bills or straws when you sniff drugs are some basic concepts that will keep you, your friends and your partners safe.
Sex can get a lot more complex. We all heard the basics in some month long middle school health unit (that probably did most people more harm than good), so I wont reiterate. When two, three or more people get intimate complex emotions can get involved. People don't say things that they should, or we may consent to things we really aren't comfortable with. I think that in sexual (or any) relationships, communication is the most important form of harm reduction you can possibly practice. When communication breaks down, the relationship can soon follow suit, and both partners can get hurt.
The TRIP Project provides lots of information on how to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, but I think there are many more things that people need to be talking about. Things that young people need to be educated about. In schools, and by their caregivers. Only recently has our society started talking about things like consent and abuse, and that's great. lets keep it up. TRIP! is working on publishing a "Consent Toolkit" to clear up some misconceptions, and provide a way for partners to make sure they are engaging in consensual sex.
You've probably heard the saying "No means NO"... What about YES?
I'll write more on that another day.