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Hacks for Preventing Beef

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Some of the most escalated situations in harm reduction spaces are conflicts between participants that are pre-existing and have nothing to do with the site.

Because of this, harm reduction leaders offered a few hacks to minimize or prevent these situations from getting out of hand before they got started:

  • Make it clear to participants that they should keep their internal conflicts outside your space.
  • Anticipate that people will break any boundary you set.
  • Do not participate, but keep an ear out for gossip about who has beef with whom so you can be aware if those parties should both arrive for services.
  • Treat everyone with respect.
  • DO NOT take sides—ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS

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. 

Hacks for Service and Supply Management

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Many of the harm reduction leaders that were interviewed for Space Hacks talked about how critical it is to effectively manage services, supplies, and inventory in order to maintain community tranquility. It may not feel intuitive, but OGs report that ineffective management of supplies is the number one potential flashpoint for escalated situations during harm reduction services.
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Hacks for Reaching Affirmation & Accord

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One of the main goals of active listening with an agitated person is reaching affirmation and accord. You are looking to try and find ways to agree with the person who is agitated. Even if you don’t entirely agree with the person, try to find at least a small way in which they may be right, or in which you can be on the same page, or team, with them.
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