Getting a GRIP

>> Three Montrealers try to teach clubbers about the drugs they're taking

by MIREILLE SILCOTT

"It's much worse now than a few years ago," says Jean-Sébastien Fallu. "When I talk to dealers they tell me that now they're carrying 75 strawberries or peaches and only 50 ecstacys for the average party, which means, actually, that the scene is more on speed. And the way people got hooked on speed was from taking bad ecstasy that contained amphetamine." Fallu is one of the three people who, a couple of years ago, came together as a drug-awareness collective called GRIP, under the slogan "Harm Reduction."

"We believe that people have a fundamental right to make their own conscious decisions regarding what drugs they choose, or choose not to, ingest. But to make such an informed decision, they need to have all the facts. The primary goal of the organization is to make the facts fully available to them," says GRIP associate Lizanne Cousineau.

Ravers and clubbers can find GRIP's infobooth at most big parties around Montreal. There they can scan GRIP's Web site and pick up pamphlets with clear information about popular club drugs like GHB, ecstasy or speed. They can also speak to someone if they have any questions.

The organization, which also conducts its own research, is still at an embryo stage. But it is fast gaining momentum, even with a complete lack of funds. "We have applied for grants and it looks good," says Fallu, who agrees that the next step for GRIP would be to set up a drug testing unit that could work both outside of parties for detailed testing of street drugs, and inside parties, so that punters can know if they have bought cut crap or the real thing before they do (or don't) take it.

"The police seem sympathetic to the idea of testing," says Fallu. "Some have said that they already test many of the drugs they seize. This is information that they could share with us."

An interesting situation, but hardly ideal in the long term. "No, it's true," says Fallu. "We would like to do our own testing--but we desperately need money. Testing has been very [beneficial] in places like the Netherlands. Hopefully it can be here too. It's not just an issue of choice at this point, it's also one of safety."

GRIP's Web site is www.bounce.to/grip, their e-mail is grip@videotron.ca, and their infoline is 525-1081. Donations are accepted.