Creating a Customized Harm Reduction Plan
Tailored Systems That Strengthen Safety, Reduce Risk, and Support Your Community
Every event operates like a living ecosystem—with its own culture, flow, norms, and pressures. A single template cannot capture the nuances of a multi-day camping festival, a tightly packed warehouse show, or a high-production indoor venue. That’s why our planning process centers on co-design: we build a harm reduction strategy that fits the identity, operational needs, and risk landscape of your event.
Drawing from our structured planning model and best practices outlined in our event-prep materials , we develop a comprehensive written plan with the following core components:
1. Pre-Event Messaging & Safety Communications:
Clear, culturally aligned messaging prepares attendees before they arrive. We help shape communication that reduces stigma, promotes informed decision-making, and normalizes help-seeking. This may include:
Pre-event email language
Safety-focused social media posts
Consent & DFSA awareness reminders
Hydration, pacing, and buddy-system messaging
Heat- or weather-specific advisories
QR codes linking to drug-checking info or naloxone guidance
2. Signage, Wayfinding & Informed-Consent Language:
We assist with messaging that meets guests where they are—on signage, wristbands, programs, menus, or app notifications. Examples include:
“Where to find naloxone” markers
“Sanctuary / decompression space” wayfinding
Micro-guides to recognizing an overdose
What drug-checking can and cannot tell you
How to find help discreetly
3. Specialized Drug-Education Materials:
High-quality, visually clear materials help attendees understand emerging risks, including:
Fentanyl and non-opioid adulterants (benzodiazepines, xylazine, nitazenes)
Polysubstance interactions (stimulants × depressants, alcohol × MDMA)
Heat-related illness and stimulant risk
Slower and measured dosing guidance
DFSA (“drink spiking”) prevention and response
How to use fentanyl/xylazine/medetomidine test strips
Materials are tailored for your demographic—whether festival-goers, club patrons, or mixed-age audiences.
4. Drug Checking & Testing Options (Where Permitted):
When legally appropriate, we design discreet drug-checking workflows that preserve guest privacy and maintain operational continuity.
This can include:
Reagent-based testing in a low-visibility, controlled area
Fentanyl, xylazine, nitazene, benzodiazepine, and medetomidine test strips
3-in-1 drink spike test kits
Clear education on test limitations, false positives, and safer-use practices
For jurisdictions where testing is restricted, we offer harm-reduction-aligned alternatives that still promote safety and informed decision-making.
5. Roaming Mobile Outreach Teams:
A harm reduction strategy must exist beyond the booth. We integrate roaming outreach (on foot and PEV/Onewheel) to ensure coverage across the full venue footprint.
Teams Can Provide:
In-the-moment education
Water, earplugs, snacks, electrolytes
Naloxone and test strips
Early risk detection (overheating, isolation, distress)
Real-time coordination with medical, EMS, or security
6. Sanctuary & Decompression Footprint Design:
Your plan includes tailored recommendations for a sanctuary or “cool-down” space—our Inner Circle Sanctuary model. We assist with:
Optimal tent size (10×10, 10×20, 20×20, or custom)
Lighting design (low-stimulus, calming)
Seating, hydration, and noise-buffering strategies
Flow management for privacy and stabilization
How sanctuary staff interface with medical/EMS
7. De-Escalation, Escalation & Warm-Handoff Protocols:
Clear boundaries prevent confusion and prevent unnecessary security or law-enforcement involvement.
Your Plan Will Include:
When harm reduction peers take the lead
When to transfer to medical/EMS
When security involvement becomes appropriate
Escalation ladders with specific thresholds
Privacy-protective escort protocols
8. Alignment & Boundaries with Law Enforcement:
To maintain safety without criminalizing guests, your plan includes:
Defined “law enforcement zones”
Specific circumstances requiring LE activation
Communication pathways to minimize punitive interactions
Language ensuring compassionate, non-coercive response
This protects guests, staff, and the integrity of your event’s culture.
9. Integrated Supply Forecasting:
We determine the quantity and type of supplies needed based on attendance, historical risk patterns, and environmental factors:
Naloxone
Test strips
Hydration supports
Cooling supplies
PPE
Sexual health items
Wound-care basics
10. Coordination & Operational Integration:
Your plan includes a full integration map detailing how HRC intersects with:
Medical
EMS
Security
Accessibility & ADA Support
Production
Stage management
Transport & parking
Artist relations (if applicable)
This minimizes siloing and ensures “one team, one plan.”
Why Customization Matters:
A tailored harm reduction plan:
Prevents avoidable medical calls
Reduces security escalations
Increases attendee trust
Mitigates environmental risk
Supports equity for attendees with higher vulnerability
Ensures all departments operate as a cohesive safety network
When designed early, these systems protect your guests, your staff, and your event’s culture.
Ready to Collaborate?
Our team will help you design a harm-reduction plan that fits your space, supports your staff, and keeps your guests safe—all while maintaining the heartbeat of your culture.
⚠️ Note: Harm Reduction Circle is not a medical provider; we coordinate closely with on-site medical teams and EMS.
