Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse | 📍 Reading, PA | Harm Reduction & Education

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the team at Reverb in Reading, Pennsylvania, for opening their doors to harm reduction. Their support allowed us to bring education, resources, and most importantly, compassion to an unforgettable night of music.

One of our volunteers, Megan, joked early in the night that she should make a sign that says, “I don’t know about magnets, but I can tell you how Narcan works.” Within a minute, we were tearing up a cardboard box and borrowing a Sharpie from the wrestling merch stand to bring her words to life. That hand-lettered sign hung proudly over our Harm Reduction table, and it did more than get laughs. It started conversations.

Throughout the night, we connected with people who shared stories of recovery, sobriety, and loss. Many stopped just to thank us for being here. Others took Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and were trained on how to use them. One person told us they lost their brother last year, and another had just celebrated 7 years sober. One person worked at a gas station, one of the highest risk public places for overdose, and took a bag full of Narcan home with them to keep at work. 

But not everyone was supportive. A few times throughout the night, we were met with dismissal and disdain. Some people waved us off, saying, “I don’t need that, I don’t do drugs,” or “I’m not around those kinds of people.”  Our volunteers provided education where there was an opportunity to do so, explaining that we are training bystanders to intervene, and that you never know when you may encounter somebody who needs help. 
Two men walking by sneered, “Fuck them, natural selection, baby,”  before laughing and disappearing into the crowd. This is a stark reminder of why we do what we do. There is stimga everywhere, and a lack of understanding of why these interventions matter. Too many people never got a second chance.

In Berks County alone, 130 people died of a drug overdose in 2022. That’s more than two people a week. These aren’t just statistics, they’re parents, children, friends. They were loved. They mattered.

Harm reduction doesn’t enable. It empowers. It meets people where they are, without judgment. We’re grateful to Reverb for understanding that. And we’re grateful to everyone who stopped by our table, grabbed Narcan, or shared a piece of their story. You reminded us that this work is vital. That community can be built in the loudest, wildest, most unexpected places.

We’ll be back. With more Narcan. And maybe a better cardboard sign.