I wish I were better at writing blogs, making content, etc. But to be honest, I have very little motivation to because the reception is so poor. Week after week, I get new free subscribers, followers on social media, etc. and lose donors to my Open Collective, get no feedback, see very little engagement, etc. I am always coming up with creative ways to have a visibility on the internet like old times, but it feels like no matter the medium, nobody cares (unless they can be provided free entertainment, which simply isn’t sustainable for me anymore).
Gripes aside, my tenacity pays off in other ways and there are a few things I am proud of that I’d like to share.
I get to provide drug checking in new contexts for vulnerable people who lack access—primarily in other countries at the moment, but I’m hoping to expand access right here in my local and regional communities as well.
My drug checking service has contributed to creating safe supply, as distributors have trashed or returned misrepresented/adulterated product instead of circulating it.
I’ll be booked on some upcoming events this year. If you saw me last year, expect to see me again with more drug checking availability and capacity.
I am now on Street Check and will be working on getting all my backdated tests (for New York only) into the app—hopefully with some help from an old coworker and comrade.
My time in Denver wasn’t a complete waste of time, apparently. I finally have another opportunity to provide harm reduction education and destigmatization trainings for medical students and healthcare practitioners—something I’ve been trying to do more formally for years. I’ve had a few various relevant opportunities sporadically over the years, but this feels more in alignment with my long term goals with the educational aspects of my work.
Probably other things that I’m forgetting about. This list is honestly enough for now to make my point.
My days of pouring energy and effort into trying to reach and teach people through the internet are limited. I don’t have much bandwidth or desire, and it’s a distraction from the types of opportunities listed above, which have a more tangible, measurable postive impact. However, there are some things I just enjoy doing, like streaming on Twitch and posting to YouTube, so I am once again asking folks to not only subscribe, but support me by viewing my channels. I’ve given up trying to have “paywalled” content because nobody gives a shit. My drug checking videos are readily available. Sometimes I upload them immediately, other times I schedule them for later. It depends on the test result, but also if I even have time to write the description yet.
If you can spare even $1/month, to please support me on Open Collective. I don’t have funders, and probably never will. Mainly because I don’t think I can do my best work with some out-of-touch agency or organization telling me how to run my program and work with people who use drugs. However, if you enjoy bending some rules and breaking some laws to get important shit down, and want to figure out how to collaborate with me to do it—let’s talk. :)