A New Harm Reduction Program Offering Cloud 9 Big Sky Highs?

by Travis Mateer

It was SO NICE to be back in the Hip Strip Hood, but I was worried that without a trash can to have a trash emergency with, I would lack purpose and direction. Then I got AN IDEA! How about starting my own version of a harm reduction program in my spacious and inviting parking lot?

If you’re curious, here’s what “harm reduction” means to SAMHSA (emphasis mine):

Harm reduction is a practical and transformative approach that incorporates community-driven public health strategies — including prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion — to empower people who use drugs (and their families) with the choice to live healthy, self-directed, and purpose-filled lives. Harm reduction centers the lived and living experience of people who use drugs, especially those in underserved communities, in these strategies and the practices that flow from them.

Harm reduction emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission; improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing; and offer low barrier options for accessing health care services, including substance use and mental health disorder treatment.

Are you beginning to see what I’m seeing in the image above? That’s right, it’s NOT just a clever way to get rid of a very large and very heavy mirror plus side table with glass-top. What you are seeing is the infrastructure of my Awesome Safe Space For Using Drugs, or ASS-FUD. The mirror reflecting clouds is reserved for “uppers”, and the side-table, which is closer to my truck, is where the opiates can be ingested.

Isn’t this great?

You might be wondering how “engaging directly with people who use drugs” will help reduce harm. What I envision is pretty simple. While the drugs are being ingested in my ASS-FUD, I’ll use my megaphone to say positive things, like “do you really need to do more meth today?” or “you don’t need to let Fentanyl define who you are!” Since I’m an inspiring fellow, I’m sure my amplified encouragement will have a positive effect.

With my new purpose in mind I strapped on my Rollerblades to inform my neighbors of this exciting new development at the TAAAAAZ. I was especially interested in visiting the weed store on the corner of 3rd and Higgins, and NOT just because I needed to buy a joint for doing outreach!

Here’s a picture of the view from INSIDE the weed store where a certain branded image let me know I won’t be buying more weed from THIS particular dispensary.

That’s right, the two g’s indicate this store supports the Cannabis profits of Nick Checota, so I told the nice bud-tender that this joint will be my first and LAST purchase at this store. I assured her it had nothing to do with her ability to tell me what expensive strain of Sativa to try out.

Since Cannabis has the power to chill people out, this wonderful substance will be a staple of my program. Maybe a local dispensary will sponsor this wonderful approach to reducing harm, since right now people in this town seem to be flipping the fuck out and dying in ways that keep involving the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. Weird.

One of the problems with my setup is the potential exposure of drugs to rain, which would be a terrible tragedy, since rain and powdered narcotics DO NOT MIX well. That’s why I’m looking for a Grant Writer, preferably one with puppeteer skills, to chase some grants in order to fund my new idea.

You don’t have be a Grant Writer, though, to donate money to Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF), so if you’re inspired by my great ideas, what are you waiting for? Donate some money TODAY and I’ll quickly make use of the funds for this VERY SERIOUS work.

Thanks for reading!