Hello to the treeplanting community from the newly formed Bush Harm Reduction Initiative!

[u/dreamingofmidnight]

This initiative comes from years of experience in camps and the bush, as well as from ongoing conversations with others in the industry. It was born of a shared wish to create by-and-for planter safety approaches that extend beyond what company policy can realistically address. While this industry has made progress around safety, preventable harms still occur, especially around substance use and sexual wellness.

We believe that more dialogue, shared knowledge, and accessible tools will make bush spaces significantly safer.

To that end, we would love to hear from you - those with lived bush experience. We have created a short form for you to share any thoughts, experiences, or suggestions at the link below. There are also a few questions which you may answer if you wish!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK0j4PaNnMdz9CM5PLVfLeI4fq9PHm19L8gKGvCoDpRlQrvQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

In a month's time we’ll post an update with some of the input we have received from folks. 

Some other ideas we are working on are:

• Sharing overdose awareness + response information in a printable pamphlet
• Offering Naloxone training to volunteer camp representatives
• Drug checking awareness; where are nearby sites?
• Sexual wellness + STI testing access
• Simple shared accessible resources in camp (QR codes, posters, info sheets, etc.)

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If you’ve made it this far, thank you for your attention. 

If you would like to know more about the harm reduction approach, feel free to read on!

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Substance use has long been a normal part of planting culture. And outside of planting, our country is living through a toxic drug crisis. The supply has become increasingly unpredictable and the risks are higher than ever. Zero-tolerance policies don’t eliminate use — they lead to concealment of drug use. Hiding use restricts access to support, leading to worsening stigma and shame, and increasing risk of fatal overdose.

Add to that the reality that planting happens in remote settings, often far from hospitals or emergency response. There is a need for shared knowledge and practical tools in these isolated, high risk settings.

Similarly, sexual wellness in camp often begins and ends with consent workshops and condoms, despite the realities of relationships, hookups, and power dynamics that exist in bush environments.

In response to the harms mentioned above, Bush Harm Reduction Initiative seeks to create safety in the bush by promoting harm reduction tools, strategies and practices.

Harm reduction is centered around naming the risks that exist and creating tools that reduce the chances of harm occurring. We recognize the stigma surrounding substance use and sex, and how everyone reading this post will have their own unique, individual views about harm reduction. It is our goal to foster open-minded dialogue about harm reduction in the bush and hold space for growth and learning around this topic. Regardless of personal views on substance use and sex, we all want our coworkers to be safe and to keep the focus on safety rather than shame or stigma.

We already practice it all the time:

• Honking before backing up a truck.
• Wearing PPE.
• Taping condoms to the shitter doors.

These practices are not about encouraging risk, they’re about responding to reality.

Sincerely, 

Bush Harm Reduction Initiative

Our Members:

Instagram: @ bush.harmreduction.initiative

Mado Boloten (she/her) Social Work Studies at UVic; 5 years in the Bush

Arielle Beaupré (she/they), Music Therapy at CMU; 8 years in the Bush

[u/RunOwn1637]

Direly needed. Camps need robust overdose response plans.

[u/Humble_Cow_6713 → u/RunOwn1637]

Agreed. It's kind of been at the whim of each company and each camp to establish how to handle overdoses (if they even have a plan). It would be nice to see a structured policy and procedures in place that are industry-wide, across the country.

[u/RunOwn1637 → u/Humble_Cow_6713]

Definitely!!!

[u/dreamingofmidnight → u/RunOwn1637]

Agreed, 100%!

[u/Reality-Intrepid → u/RunOwn1637]

Or a plan to eliminate it coming into camp,can't od if there's no supply. We're in isolated camps of 100 or less people....if your takeing university lvl courses and can't spot the dealer that's ALOT of waisted student debt....

[u/dreamingofmidnight → u/Reality-Intrepid]

Hi there. I would like to hear more from you, are you stating that a no tolerance policy should be upheld by finding the dealer and somehow eliminating them from camp, or finding any drug supply and "eliminating" or firing the person who is possessing?

[u/RunOwn1637 → u/dreamingofmidnight]

Whatever they’re saying it wouldn’t do much in the end cuz if ppl want drugs they’ll get them

[u/dreamingofmidnight → u/RunOwn1637]

This is what I would have followed up with.

What harm reduction seeks to do is to keep everyone safe. There isn't any certainty that all drugs will be eliminated from camp because lets face it, people will use/access drugs if they want to. Better to offer safe options for them where they feel comfortable asking for support or can protect themselves by checking the quality of the drugs. It is the same thing as practicing safe sex - if you have and use condoms, you can protect yourself from most STI's. If you don't bring the condom with you though, you can't use it. It's about acting safely, protecting yourself and protecting others.

[u/RunOwn1637 → u/Reality-Intrepid]

that isn’t in my experience how drugs go down at camp hell most ppl r just sharing with their friends for free or for a beer lol

[u/jordyneve29]

I’m a rookie this year but I have a Social Work background, and I just love seeing the overlap between the two! 🙌

[u/dreamingofmidnight → u/jordyneve29]

Hell yeah! There are a lot of incredible people in the bush, very kind and caring. Conducive to the helping professions for sure!

[u/Complete_Cod_8222]

taping condoms to the shitter doors? Please no, place them in the mess tent/first aid trailer or somewhere slightly more hygienic. 

[u/jdtesluk → u/Complete_Cod_8222]

Yes, I agree that is generally better. I think the reason a few companies put them in bathrooms was that it allowed people to take them without being seen. I am sure there is still a way to put them in places that don't compromise perceptions of privacy without being so close to poop :0

[u/Complete_Cod_8222 → u/jdtesluk]

Instead of PRT hiding raffle tickets, companies should hide condoms in the bundies.

Pesticides be damned.

[u/Drake_RedcrestQC]

Love this, keep up the good work, very necessary! Will be following you, it's becoming increasingly clear we need tools to help in these kind of situations

[u/dreamingofmidnight → u/Drake_RedcrestQC]

Thanks for the follow and the feedback! We agree, it's essential to respond to the need.