ALISE: Columbia University SSDP Chapter

09/06/2018

Want to learn how to save a life? Check out Washington Heights CORNER Project's new video-- "How to Save a Life Using Naloxone!"

If you are part of the Columbia community and want naloxone, please Facebook message us or text our service number to get your free kit. We are also proud to say that we offer free overdose response trainings through our friends at WHCP!

Want to learn how to save a life? CON Coordinator Lynn gives the run-down on how to respond to an opioid overdose using naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid rever...

08/07/2018

Have you heard the stories about law enforcement overdosing after touching fentanyl?

The persistent myth prevents people from getting the help they need.

07/27/2018

BAD BATCH ALERT: Washington Heights white “KO” bag

The white “KO” bag being sold as he**in in Washington Heights has tested positive for fentanyl and is linked to serious overdose, resulting in seizures and drastic drop in oxygen.

Always make sure to test before you ingest and follow other overdose prevention strategies (don’t use alone, always carry naloxone, take a small amount first to gauge strength, practice staggered use, etc). And don’t forget that you can use our service number (listed on our page) to request free overdose prevention supplies (naloxone, fentanyl test strips, etc.) if you’re in the city!

BAD "HE**IN" BATCH ALERT in Washington Heights!

The white "KO" baggie has been linked to SERIOUS OVERDOSE, resulting in SEIZURE and DRASTIC DROP IN OXYGEN.

PLEASE be very careful and follow overdose prevention advice!

07/27/2018

BAD BATCH ALERT: NYC “RED LIPS” TABLET

A red lips tablet sold as M**A (aka molly/ ecstasy) tested as N-Ethylpentylone (a substituted cathinone), methamphetamine, and acetaminophen.

Always make sure to test before you ingest and follow other overdose prevention strategies (don’t use alone, take a small amount first to gauge strength, drink lots of water, etc). And don’t forget that you can use our service number (listed on our page) to request free overdose prevention supplies (naloxone, fentanyl test strips, etc.) if you’re in the city!

ATTN: Alert Issued for New York, NY

A red lips tablet sold as M**A tested as N-Ethylpentylone (a substituted cathinone), methamphetamine, and acetaminophen.

We urge our community to keep in mind that drug markets are expansive and these substances may appear in locations other than where they were originally sourced. Always test before you ingest to avoid ingesting misrepresented substances. Purchase your DanceSafe drug checking kit in the comments below.

05/25/2018

05/22/2018

“Mayor Bill de Blasio, who remains opposed to ma*****na legalization, is directing the NYPD to issue summonses to individuals who smoke ma*****na in public instead of arresting them, the New York Daily News reported on Sunday.”

A promising start, but this is not enough. If we want real change, DeBlasio needs to support legalization and the expungement of records for all New Yorkers who have been unfairly criminalized as a result of our oppressive drug laws!

Is New York getting closer to legalizing pot than we thought?

05/08/2018

Happy International Harm Reduction Day! You didn't think we forgot, did you? ❤

This day serves as an opportunity to promote evidence-based drug policies that are rooted in public health and human rights (vs. the oppressive systems existing at every institutional level-- whether it be the federal government or our very own university-- that not only criminalizes and stigmatizes people, but drastically increases the harms related to illicit drug use). We hope that one day, Columbia will recognize that we desperately need to change how we approach the issue of drug use on campus.

----------------------------------------------

This year's theme is "Harm Reduction Heroes," and so we would like to highlight an academic institution that strives to support their students: Reed College.
---

Reed's Vice President for Student Services, Mike Brody, once defined harm reduction as, "the idea that you shouldn't have to push abstinence as the only way to reduce harm, that some students are going to use, and that our goal is to reduce the harms associated with that use." Originally starting out at Reed as a therapist, Brody understands that "illicit substances will always be present on campus, which means that it is in the best interest of the community to make an effort to give students resources to keep themselves and each other safe."
---

Instead of the harmful and ineffective "zero tolerance" approach implemented at many institutions-- including Columbia--, Reed has established multiple support services through their Community Wellness Programs, such as peer-driven health promotion programming and roaming student outreach that increases safety on campus through offering services on weekend nights like student es**rt and free snacks and water. Through the efforts of Reed's SSDP chapter, a testing kit is also available on campus so that students can check their drugs for potentially dangerous adulterants. Reed has received extensive attention for their dedication to student health and well-being, including an outstanding rating in an audit by a blue-ribbon panel of nationally recognized experts. Columbia should definitely take note!
---

For more information on Reed's approach to drug use on campus, please visit: https://www.reed.edu/academic/gbook/comm_pol/drug_approach.html

To read Brody's full interview, please visit: http://www.reedthegrail.com/newsandfeatures/2015/3/24/struggling-to-stay-addiction-on-campus

The guidebook is compiled by the office of the dean of faculty. The policies and procedures described in the guidebook are published as fully accurate to the best of the college's knowledge, but are subject to change without notice.

05/03/2018

Fantastic news!! Years of research published worldwide have proven that establishing a space for supervised drug consumption will prevent overdose and significantly improve health outcomes for People Who Use Drugs (while also easing the burden on ambulance services and reducing drug-related litter and crime in the community!).

“The plan calls for four sites to open after a 6-to-12-month period of outreach to the communities where they will be located. They would operate as pilot programs for a year.

At the sites, which would be called Overdose Prevention Centers, trained staff would be available to administer medications, such as naloxone, to counteract drug overdoses.”

Though no injection sites exist yet in the United States, the endorsement of the strategy by New York may give the movement behind it special impetus.

04/06/2018

Bacchanal is approaching fast, and so we would like to remind everyone to plan ahead and take steps to stay safe when partying!

In line with our mission statement to provide students with the resources necessary to be safe, CU ALISE offers ~free safer partying resources on campus.~ This year, we are excited to announce that we will be joined by our affiliated harm reduction specialists to provide these services for Bacchanal!

With the presence of fentanyl in New York, we strongly encourage everyone to TEST BEFORE YOU INGEST and carry naloxone in case you witness an OD. For anyone who needs fentanyl test strips or other safer partying supplies, we will be available on campus all day Saturday and can always be reached by texting our service number (347-389-0176).

04/04/2018

As we are gearing up for this year's Bacchanal, please remember to TEST BEFORE YOU INGEST!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is an unfortunate fact that fentanyl and its analogues have been found in a variety of powders, fake pills, crystals/rocks, and even blotter paper! Fentanyl is a very strong opioid that may cause overdose if unknowingly consumed, especially if it's added to a non-opioid like M**A, L*D, co***ne, or Xanax. The only way to know for certain that a street-bought drug does not have fentanyl is by testing it beforehand.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may unintentionally consume fentanyl, please text our service number (347- 389-0176) or shoot us a message on Facebook to be connected to free safer partying supplies, including test strips that check for the presence of fentanyl (and at least 9 analogues) and naloxone (the opioid OD reversal antidote).

CU ALISE will also be working with a local harm reduction organization to provide essential harm reduction education and resources on-site this Saturday! Stay tuned for details!

ATTN: ALERT ISSUED FOR QUEBEC & GENERAL PUBLIC

Authorities in Quebec, Canada have seized blotter that contains carfentanil.

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid with approximately 100 times the potency by weight of fentanyl. While we are unaware of what the substance was initially sold as on the market, this marks the third time we've become aware of carfentanil that has been detected on blotter paper. This is particularly concerning because this sample was on blotter containing the famous ‘Albert Hofmann Bicycle Ride' print, which has been used to distribute L*D for decades.

Remember, if you consume any substances at all, please test them with both reagent testing, and fentanyl test strips (which can also detect carfentanil).

02/09/2018

ACTION NEEDED: Support the Amend The RAVE Act in their mission to make partying safer by signing their petition!

This petition is meant to urge Congress to amend the 2003 Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (aka the RAVE Act)-- as the law currently stands, many music venue owners and event organizers are too fearful of potential federal prosecution to implement common sense safety measures, specifically those associated with reducing drug-related harms. Sign now to push for a fairer Act that will empower these venues to do MORE for their patrons!

Please join me in signing this petition. It is time for a "safety first" approach to drug use that includes harm reduction measures along with current law enforcement efforts.

01/19/2018