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Important Terms: Escalated Events

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Rather than refer to “emergencies” or “security problems,” we talk in terms of “escalated events,” because all of the following can create escalated emotional states, and sometimes catastrophically heightened stress levels, in everyone involved. They also have the potential to do a great deal of harm to the people and organizations they touch. But many of the things that help prevent and respond to all of them are the same—despite very different variables.

  • Any kind of violent event or threats of violence
  • Medical emergencies
  • Severe emotional or perceptual issues or dysregulation
  • Disasters
  • Accidents
  • Overdose
  • Sudden and/or catastrophic loss

Featured Hacks

These featured hacks highlight creative, practical solutions from harm reduction leaders on the ground. From DIY tools to clever workarounds, each one reflects the ingenuity, care, and real-world experience that keeps this movement alive. 

Consent Culture

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The concept of “consent culture” emerged from the sex positive movement of the 1980s and 90s. It was a response to the concept of “rape culture”, a term that had been coined to describe the experience that many people—especially women, queer and trans people—have of sexual violence and harassment.
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Hacks for Community Member Agreements

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Community member agreements are shared agreements regarding behavior expected of everyone who participates in a harm reduction site or service. The primary rule all harm reduction leaders talked about was the need to treat everyone with respect.
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