DanceSafe

DanceSafe

DanceSafe booth at Seattle Hempfest 2007

DanceSafe is a non-profit organization that promotes health and safety within the nightlife and electronic music community. Founded in 1998, DanceSafe is known for its harm reduction services, including drug checking, peer education, and outreach at music festivals and events.

History

DanceSafe was established in the late 1990s by Emanuel Sferios in response to the growing use of MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and other substances in the rave and electronic dance music scenes. The organization was created to provide unbiased information and resources to help individuals make informed decisions about drug use.

Mission and Activities

DanceSafe's mission is to promote health and safety within the nightlife community by providing harm reduction services. The organization operates on the principles of non-judgmental support and education. Key activities include:

Drug Checking

DanceSafe offers drug checking services at events, allowing individuals to test substances for purity and adulterants. This service helps users identify potentially dangerous substances and make safer choices.

Peer Education

The organization trains volunteers to provide peer education on topics such as safe drug use, sexual health, and mental health. Volunteers distribute educational materials and engage with event attendees to raise awareness about harm reduction.

Outreach and Advocacy

DanceSafe participates in outreach efforts at music festivals, raves, and other events. The organization advocates for harm reduction policies and works to reduce the stigma associated with drug use.

Impact

DanceSafe has been instrumental in promoting harm reduction practices within the electronic music community. By providing drug checking services and educational resources, the organization has helped reduce the risks associated with drug use at events. DanceSafe's efforts have also contributed to broader discussions about drug policy and public health.

Criticism and Challenges

While DanceSafe's harm reduction approach has been praised by many, the organization has faced criticism from some who believe that its services may encourage drug use. DanceSafe counters this by emphasizing that its goal is to provide safety information and reduce harm, not to condone or promote drug use.

Related Pages

• Harm reduction
• MDMA
• Electronic dance music
• Rave
• Drug policy