Monday, November 13, 2017

Introduction

For each commonly used drug (listed on right) there is information provided for possible positive effects from use, possible neutral effects from use, possible negative effects from use, overdose amount, class, standard dosage, and notes on dangers and usage. There are also several articles below on a variety of drug education and safety related topics.

BASIC INFO
What is harm reduction?
Drug use vs drug abuse
Terminology and Classifications
What is ego death?

SAFETY DURING USE
What is the safest way to do drugs?
Mental health and drug use
Addiction Prevention
Where can I buy testing kits?
How to use needles safely
Cold water extraction
Drug Interactions

RISK MANAGEMENT
What to do in case of an overdose
Addiction support
Research Chemicals
What is serotonin syndrome?
Drug-Induced Psychosis
Delusions and Paranoia

Alcohol

Possible positive effects from use:
- Anxiety suppression
- Relaxation
- Pain relief
- Physical euphoria

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Amnesia
- Dizziness
- Frequent urination
- Disinhibition
- Increased libido

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Dehydration
- Double vision
- Temporary erectile dysfunction

Overdose amount: 15-20 shots

Class: Depressant

Standard dosage: 1-3 shots depending on your physical size and natural tolerance

Notes: Do not mix with acitomentaphin (ibuprofen). If you get alcohol poisoning when using a non oral ROI, a hospital will not be able to pump your stomach and you will be at much higher risk for serious damage or death. It is generally a bad idea to mix alcohol with anything aside from marijuana. It is physically safe to mix alcohol with psychedelics, but it is known to have negative cognitive effects.

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
- Seizure suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Energy
- Sedation

Possible negative effects from use:
- Blackouts
- Nausea

Overdose amount: Around 1000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Serious danger is unlikely unless mixed with other substances.

Class: Benzodiazepine

Standard dosage: 5-20 milligrams

Notes: Do not mix with depressants or dissociatives as this increases risks.

Ayahuasca

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Addiction suppression
- Analysis enhancement
- Creativity enhancement
- Catharsis
- Empathy enhancement
- Personal bias suppression
- Spirituality enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Sedation
- Delusions
- Suggestibility enhancement
- Ego death
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations

Possible negative effects from use:
- Motor control loss
- Stomach pain
- Dehydration
- Nausea

Overdose amount: An incredibly unreasonable amount we haven't been able to define yet

Class: Hallucinogen

Standard dosage: Unsure

Notes: This is pretty safe physically. Do not mix with other serotonin enhancing drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, meth, or nicotine as this can add the risk of serotonin syndrome. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using psychedelics.

Caffeine

Possible positive effects from use:
- Euphoria
- Focus enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Wakefullness
- Stimulation

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Cognitive fatigue

Overdose amount: 150-200 milligrams

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 26-95 milligrams

Notes: Caffeine is fairly safe (discounting the high addiction potential) unless you take a very high dosage.

Cocaine/crack

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
- Motivation enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Frequent urination
- Tactile hallucinations
- Mouth numbing
- Wakefulness

Possible negative effects from use:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Irritability
- Psychosis
- Dehydration
- Temporary erectile dysfunction
- Cardiovascular damage
- Paranoia

Overdose amount: 30 milligrams to 5 grams depending on tolerance

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 5-30 milligrams

Notes: Do not mix with alcohol. Do not mix with other stimulants, DXM or nicotine as this increases heart strain. Do not mix with depressants as this can cause the delay of overdose symptoms and increase heart strain. Do not mix with ecstasy as this greatly increases neurotoxicity.

Codeine

Possible positive effects from use:
- Pain releif
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Sedation
- Decreased libido
- Sleepiness

Possible negative effects from use:
- Itching
- Consipation
- Difficulty urinating
- Nausea

Overdose amount: 450-800 milligrams

Class: Opioid

Standard dosage: 30-100 milligrams

Notes: At above 400 milligrams effects will no longer increase. Mixing with depressants can cause loss of consciousness, vomiting, and shallow breathing which is just as dangerous as an overdose if you aren't with someone who can get you into recovery position and watch you. Mixing with stimulants can lead to dangerous dehydration levels. Dissociatives can cause the same effects as mixing with depressants with the added effect of delusions and amnesia.

Dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Motivation enhancement
- Analysis enhancement
- Wakefulness

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Frequent urination

Possible negative effects from use:
- Dehydaration
- Nausea
- Temporary erectile dysfunction

Overdose amount: Around 180 mg

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 5-40 milligrams

Notes: Do not mix with ecstasy, or cocaine as this increases neurotoxicity. Do not mix with alcohol. You could mix it with DXM with relative safety (unless you have a heart condition) but you would probably have a bad time

Diacetylmorphine (Heroin)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Pain relief
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Nodding off
- Decreased libido
- Orgasm suppression

Possible negative effects from use:
- Unconciousness
- Nausea
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Difficulty urinating
- Itchiness

Overdose amount: 75-500 milligrams depending on body weight. Because the purity of illegally obtained heroin varies wildly, always start with a low dose, and keep nalaxone on hand if you're able.

Class: Opioid

Standard dosage: These doses won't mean much unless you have a bottle of hospital grade diamorphine, but there is no better dosage information to give because of the varying purity of heroin sold. So when using heroin, it is even more important to always start with a low dose than it is with other substances.
  • Smoked: 2-20 milligrams 
  • Snorted: 5-25 milligrams
  • Injected: 1-8 milligrams

Notes: You can die from mixing with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other depressants. Mixing with stimulants increases the risks that both substances present. The purity of heroin varies wildly. There is no real way to tell how pure any heroin is unless you got it from a hospital, so always start with a very small amount to avoid danger. Remember that regardless of tolerance or intoxication, the overdose amount remains the same. Heroin is often cut with Fentanyl which is much easier to overdose on. You can buy Fentanyl test kits HERE. To learn about needle safety, look HERE. An opiate overdose can be temporarily halted using nalaxone

Diazepam (Valium)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Seizure suppression
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Muscle relaxation
- Sedation

Possible negative effects from use:
- Motor control loss
- Dizziness
- Analysis suppression
- Amnesia

Overdose amount: It's nearly impossible to overdose on diazepam alone. There have been people who tool 2000 milligrams and experienced only low toxicity.

Class: Depressant/Benzodiazepine

Standard dosage: 1-10 milligrams

Notes: Mixing with other depressants or alcohol can kill you. Mixing with stimulants can cause severe dehydration. Mixing with dissociatives can lead to unconsciousness and vomiting. Less than 1% of people experience the following: Seizures in epileptics, aggression, increased anxiety, violent behavior, loss of impulse control, irritability and suicidal behavior.

DMT

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Bias suppression
- Spirituality enhancement
- Existential self-realization
- Perception of self-design

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Changes felt in gravity
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations
- Disassociation
- Auditory distortions
- Disorientation
- Ego death
- Time distortion

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Fear

Overdose amount: There are essentially no physical risks but caution is advised as it can leave a mental mark on the user

Class: Psychedelic

Standard dosage: 2-30 milligrams

Notes: Do not use if you are seizure prone or are in poor physical health. Don't mix with lithium as it can lead to seizures. Do not mix with stimulants as this can increase anxiety, paranoia, and generally will make you have a bad time. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using substances.

DXM (Cough Syrup)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Pain relief
- Self-realization

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Sedation
- Stimulation
- Delusions
- Ego death
- Conceptual thinking
- Hallucinations
- Changes felt in bodily form
- Physical disconnection
- Visual distortions

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Temperature regulation suppression
- Itchiness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty interpreting visuals
- Anxiety
- Fear

Overdose amount: 15 - 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight is the overdose amount of DXM. It is important to remember that this is for the chemical DXM alone. There are chemicals in cough syrup and other DXM containing substances which are easier to overdose on.


Class: Dissociative


Standard dosage: 80-200 milligrams


Notes: DXM is largely regarded as being unpleasant, and the nausea is a very notable aspect of it for many people. It is safest to use DXM powder (you can get it online) as you can measure more accurately and not be ingesting other things fond in cough syrup or other DXM containing over the counter medications. Mixing with PCP increases neurotoxicity. Mixing with stimulants can lead to panic, delusions, mania, and dangerous heart rates. Mixing with depressants can lead to unconsciousness and vomiting. Mixing with antidepressants or other medications can cause serotonin syndrome. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using substances. Delusions are very common when using DXM, learn more about helping yourself and others with drug-induced delusions and paranoia on THIS page.

Hydrocodone

Possible positive effects from use:
- Pain relief
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Sedation
- Decreased libido
- Orgasm suppression

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Difficulty urinating
- Stomach cramps

Overdose amount: 80 milligrams

Class: Opioid

Standard dosage: 3-15 milligrams

Notes: Mixing with depressants can lead to death. Mixing with stimulants can lead to over intoxication. Mixing with dissociatives can lead to amnesia, sedation, motor control loss and delusions as well as unconsciousness and vomiting. Nalaxone temporarily stops an opiate overdose - learn about where to get and how to use it HERE. Some prescription opioids include some amount of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The amount of acetaminophen it takes to cause liver damage is around 4,000mg, and at 6,000mg you are running the risk of overdose. This can be avoided with cold water extractions. If there is any chance a pill was pressed, it is likely cut with Fentanyl, which is much easier to overdose on. You can buy Fentanyl test kits HERE. To learn about needle safety, look HERE.

Inhalants

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Hallucinations
- Dissociation

Possible negative effects from use:
- Motor control loss
- Brain damage

Overdose amount: Any amount has the potential to kill you, though rarely, and at least minor brain damage occurs with each use.

Notes: Inhalants aren't worth it. There are lots of things out there that cause the same positive effects that won't kill you or give you brain damage. If you insist on doing inhalants, do whip-its.

Ketamine

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Pain relief
- Anxiety suppression
- Personal bias suppression
- Existential self-realization

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Dissociation
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations

Possible negative effects from use:
- Motor control loss
- Disorientation
- Nausea

Overdose amount: We are unsure of the lethal dose but high doses (150+ milligrams) can easily cause brain damage.

Class: Dissociative

Standard dosage: 40-75 milligrams

Notes: Regular use is much more harmful than one time use. More that 4 days a month is shown to cause brain damage. Mixing with stimulants can cause delusions and anxiety. Mixing with depressants can cause vomiting and unconsciousness. Ketamine has a moderate addiction potential. Learn more about addiction prevention HERE.

Kratom

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Pain relief
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Sleepiness
- Decreased libido
- Visual distortions

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Itchiness
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Difficulty urinating
- Orgasm suppression

Overdose amount: Essentially impossible to overdose on though high doses can lead to respiratory depression. Taking more than 8 grams will induce vomiting so more than that is probably a bad idea.

Class: Depressant

Standard dosage: 1-4 grams

Notes: Mixing with depressants can cause vomiting and unconsciousness. Mixing with stimulants can cause anxiety and increased heart rate which can be dangerous. Mixing with nicotine can cause nausea and dizziness.

LSD (Acid)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Personal bias suppression
- Creativity enhancement
- Addiction suppression
- Spirituality enhancement
- Analysis enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Spontaneous physical sensations
- Tactile enhancement
- Laughter fits
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations
- Delusions
- Changes in felt bodily form
- Ego death
- Time distortion
- Dissociation
- Existential self-realization
- Wakefullness

Possible negative effects from use:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Nausea
- Difficulty urinating
- Dehydration
- Psychosis

Overdose amount: You cannot overdose on LSD alone, though you should use caution as large doses can leave the user permanently changed. It also greatly increases one's heart rate, so those with heart conditions could potentially have an LSD-induced heart issue. You can die from the use of 25i.

Class: Psychedelic

Standard dosage: 25-150 micrograms (one tab)

Notes:
       There are many myths about LSD. Here are some corrections on the most popular ones:

1) LSD does not stay in your body forever. Also, cracking your joints does not release stored LSD. This is just complete nonsense - LSD leaves your body very quicky and is not store in any capacity.

2) LSD is not excreted through sweat. Touching someone on LSD cannot get you high. Licking someone on LSD cannot get you high. It is impossible to get LSD into your system without directly coming into contact with the substance.

3) LSD is in no way harmless. Though it is true that you cannot overdose and die on LSD, it absolutely causes brain damage in high does or from consistent use.

4) LSD does not damage the chromosomes of fetuses. Though you obviously should avoid all substance use while pregnant, LSD hasn't been shown to cause any serious damage to fetuses.

5) LSD is almost never laced with strychnine, methamphetamine, or PCP. Strychnine has only been found in LSD on a handful of occasions across all recorded history. PCP is occasionally found in LSD, but in nearly negligible percentages. Essentially all LSD fount to have these added is in liquid form, while LSD on blotter paper almost never contains these adulterants. This is because these adulterants do not bind to blotter paper effectively.

6) LSD doesn't make you easily susceptible to "mind control", or make you lose control of yourself. You are still you when you take LSD, and no one can use LSD to force you to think a certain way. BUT, while on LSD it is much easier to believe what people say, which is why people emphasize the importance of a safe social setting when using LSD - or any psychedelic.

7) Almost no one takes a dose (or even a very heavy dose) of LSD and is never functional/psychologically well again. For the most part, LSD is fairly safe to take very occasionally. That said, people who are at high risk of developing - or who have already developed - a psychotic disorder (including bipolar) are at a much higher risk of LSD induced psychotic episodes, and other negative cognitive effects.

Now that we've dealth with those myths, let's talk about the real risks of LSD and how to handle them.
       LSD shouldn't taste like anything. There is a research chemical called 25i which is often sold as LSD but has much more dangerous and unpleasant effects on the body and mind. The best way to tell 25i from LSD is that 25i has a metallic or bitter taste. LSD makes the effects of marijuana much more intense and LSD like. Mixing with dissociatives can be very overwhelming. Mixing with MDMA may be somewhat neurotoxic, though this could just be the neurotoxicity of MDMA itself. Mixing with alcohol is generally regarded as unpleasant as it increased fatigue, nausea, and dehydration.
       Take dehydration seriously. Check the weather, LSD can make it hard to tell if you are too cold. It's important to be in good physical health before using LSD, as it is usually notably taxing on your body. People usually like to have a day to relax after taking LSD, as once the experience is over they feel drained, though happy in the "afterglow". It is also important to be in a positive head-space when using LSD as it will often amplify your current mental state. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using psychedelics. Delusions are fairly common when using LSD, especially in high doses. Read about helping yourself and others with drug-induced delusions and paranoia on THIS page.






Marijuana (THC)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Anxiety suppression
- Pain relief
- Creativity enhancement
- Physical euphoria
- Nausea relief
- Laughter

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Sedation
- Appetite enhancement
- Sleepiness
- Mild hallucinations
- Increased libido
- Color enhancement

Possible negative effects from use:
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Paranoia
- Fear

Overdose amount: No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, though there have been cases of people becoming dangerously dehydrated.

Class: Different strains/forms cause very different effects. Stimulant/depressant.

Notes:
       Mixing with psychedelics can increase/change the effects of both substances. Marijuana smoke is just as bad, if not worse, than tobacco smoke. Different strains of marijuana, and even just different plants, can be significantly more or less potent than others. It is normal for users to often experience different effects when using marijuana. Some people have a strong adverse reaction to marijuana which usually entails panic attacks, anxiety, or paranoia. These negative effects usually last longer than the usual marijuana high. Remember that edible forms of THC take an hour or so to begin to take effect. Marijuana can be a very effective sleep aid, but if used consistently for this purpose it may become difficult to sleep without use - and the user may begin to experience lower-quality of sleep when the substance is used.
       It is commonly said that marijuana isn't addictive, and while this is true in the sense that it will not cause a person to go into withdrawals if they cut themselves off after a long period of use, people do develop psychological dependencies. When people have been using marijuana regularly for a long period of time, discontinuing use often leads to symptoms such as irritability, lack of apatite, and insomnia. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using substances. 

MDA (Sass)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
- Empathy enhancement
- Emotion enhancement
- Affection enhancement
- Sociability enhancement
- Unity and interconnectedness

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Sedation
- Laughter fits
- Visual distortions
- Increased libido
- Existential self-realization

Possible negative effects from use:
- Temperature regulation suppression
- Dehydration
- Wakefullness
- Difficulty urinating
- Temporary erectile dysfunction
- Anxiety

Overdose amount: The exact amount is unclear, but more than 450 milligrams would probably be unwise, due to the nearly inevitable brain damage.

Class: Entactogen/stimulant/psychedelic

Standard dosage: 30-70 miligrams

Notes:  MDA is highly neurotoxic and can easily lead to serotonin syndrome when used in recklessly. More than around 1.5 points, is putting you at risk. Using more often than every month or two also puts you at risk. After effects sometimes include depression and anxiety. MDA is an amphetamine. Mixing with cocaine can cause heart strain. DXM increases heart strain and can cause panic or anxiety. Mixing with alcohol is dangerous as it can lead to dangerous levels of intoxication. Mixing with any serotonin releasing drug, such as antidepressants or MDMA, increases serotonin syndrome risk. Mixing with MDMA greatly increases neurotoxicity.

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Anxiety suppression
- Empathy enhancement
- Affection enhancement
- Sociability enhancement
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Pain relief
- Focus enhancement
- Motivation enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Sedation (In high doses)
- Disinhibition
- Changes felt in bodily weight
- Increased libido
- Sound distortions

Possible negative effects from use:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Difficulty urinating
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Temporary erectile dysfunction

Overdose amount: We are unsure of exact amount but more than 450 milligrams would probably be unwise.

Class: Stimulant / Entactogen

Standard dosage: 30-100 milligrams

Notes: MDMA is really neurotoxic and can easily lead to serotonin syndrome when used in recklessly. More than, I'd say 1.5 points, is putting you at risk. After effects include depression and anxiety. MDMA is an amphetamine. Do not mix with alcohol as it can lead to dangerous levels of intoxication. Mixing with DXM can cause panic and heart strain. Mixing with stimulants, especially cocaine, can increase neurotoxicity can heart strain significantly. Seizures may occur in those predisposed to them.

Mescaline

Mescaline is the concentrated form of the psychedelic ingredient in peyote

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Spirituality enhancement
- Analysis enhancement
- Empathy enhancement
- Affection enhancement
- Sociability enhancement
- Personal bias suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations
- Spontaneous physical sensations
- Delusions
- Ego death
- Wakefullness
- Existential self-realization

Possible negative effects from use:
- Nausea
- Frequent urination

Overdose amount: There is no evidence that you can overdose on mescaline

Class: Psychadellic

Standard dosage: 75-300 milligrams

Methamphetamine

Possible positive effects from use:
- Analysis enhancement
- Cognitive euphoria
- Focus enhancemnt
- Stamina enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Wakefullness
- Tactile enhancements
- Tactile hallucinations

Possible negative effects from use:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
- Psychosis
- Paranoia
- Iritibility
- Frequent urination

Overdose amount:
  • Oral: 150 milligrams
  • Smoked/Insuffulated: 50 milligrams
  • Intravenous: 100 milligrams

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 5-20 milligrams

Notes: Mixing with alcohol can lead to over intoxication. Mixing with DXM can increase heart strain and cause panic. Mixing with MDMA can increase neurotoxicity. Mixing with cocaine can cause or increase heart strain. Symptoms of psychosis are largely accepted as normal by those who use for days at a time, especially without sleep, and methamphetamine poses a high risk of drug-induced psychosis. The paranoia it brings is also generally seen as a normal and common effect. Delusions are very common when using methamphetamine. Read about helping yourself and others with drug-induced delusions and paranoia on THIS page.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Focus enhancement
- Motivation enhancement
- Memory enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Stimulation
- Wakefulness

Possible negative effects from use:
- Dehydration

Overdose amount: 60-120 milligrams

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 5-30 milligrams

Notes: Do not mix with alcohol. Mixing with DXM can cause panic and heart strain. Mixing with MDMA can increase neurotoxicity. 

Morphine

Possible positive effects from use:
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Cough suppression
- Pain relief
- Anxiety suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Decreased libido
- Orgasm suppression
- Sedation
- Double vision

Possible negative effects from use:
- Constipation
- Itchiness
- Nausea

Overdose amount: 200 milligrams

Class: Opiod

Standard dosage: 10-20 milligrams

Notes: Mixing with depressants such as benzodiazepines can result in death. Mixing with stimulants can increase the risks that both substances present. Mixing with alcohol increases overdose risks. Nalaxone temporarily stops an opiate overdose - learn about where to get and how to use it HERE. Some prescription opioids include some amount of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The amount of acetaminophen it takes to cause liver damage is around 4,000mg, and at 6,000mg you are running the risk of overdose. This can be avoided with cold water extractions. If there is any chance a pill was pressed, it is likely cut with Fentanyl, which is much easier to overdose on. You can buy Fentanyl test kits HERE. To learn about needle safety, look HERE.

Nicotine (Cigarettes)

Possible positive effects from use:
- Anxiety suppression
- Cognitive euphoria
- Memory enhancement
- Motivation enhancement

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Wakefulness

Possible negative effects from use:
- Dizziness
- Nausea

Overdose amount:  6.5 - 13 milligrams per kilogram of body weight

Class: Stimulant

Standard dosage: 0.2 - 1 milligrams

Oxycodone

Possible positive effects from use:
- Pain relief
- Anxiety suppression
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Cough suppression

Possible neutral effects from use:
- Decreased libido
- Orgasm suppression

Possible negative effects from use:
- Difficulty urinating
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Itchiness

Overdose amount:

Class: Opioid

Standard dosage: 1-20 milligrams

Notes:
       Mixing with depressants can lead to death. Mixing with stimulants can lead to over intoxication. Mixing with dissociatives can lead to amnesia, sedation, motor control loss and delusions as well as unconsciousness and vomiting. Many prescription opioids include some amount of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The amount of acetaminophen it takes to cause liver damage is around 4,000mg, and at 6,000mg you are running the risk of overdose. This can be avoided with cold water extractions. Nalaxone temporarily stops an opiate overdose - learn about where to get and how to use it HERE.  If there is any chance a pill was pressed, it is likely cut with Fentanyl, which is much easier to overdose on. You can buy Fentanyl test kits HERE. To learn about needle safety, look HERE.

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Possible positive effects:
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
- Creativity enhancement

Possible neutral effects:
- Delusions
- Ego death
- Hallucinations
- Spontaneous physical sensations
- Mania
- Double vision

possible negative effects:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Difficulty focusing eyes
- Fear
- Amnesia
- Analysis suppression

Overdose amount: doses over 15 milligrams are not recommended

Class: Dissociative

Standard dosage: 1-3 milligrams

Notes: Heavy doses or long term use may result in psychosis or mania; mixing with psychedelics can increase this risk. Mixing with stimulants can also increase this risk as well as causing panic. Mixing with depressants can lead to unconsciousness and vomiting. PCP is a substance where you really want to start slow, due to the severity of the potential mania and delirium. Delusions are very common when using PCP, learn more about helping yourself and others with drug-induced delusions and paranoia on THIS page.

Psilocybin (Mushrooms)

Possible positive effects:
- Spirituality enhancement
- Emotion enhancement
- Creativity enhancement
- Physical euphoria
- Cognitive euphoria
- Empathy enhancement
- Affection enhancement
- Sociability enhancement
- Analysis enhancement
- Personal bias suppression
- Addiction suppression

Possible neutral effects:
- Sedation
- Hallucinations
- Changes felt in gravity
- Changes felt in physical form
- Delusions

possible negative effects:
- Nausea
- Fear
- Frequent urination
- Confusion
- Runny nose

Overdose amount: 280 milligrams per kilogram of body weight

Class: Psychedelic

Standard dosage: .5-2 grams

Notes: Mixing with Tramadol can cause seizures. Mixing with lithium can cause this effect as well as risk of psychosis. Mixing with stimulants can lead to panic, paranoia, or psychosis. People usually like to have the day after the trip be a relaxed one, as once the experience is over they feel drained, though still very happy in the afterglow. Nausea and vomiting are very common on mushrooms and are not usually cause for concern, but the more you take, the more likely these effects are. The potency of mushrooms you get at any one time, will usually not be indicative of how potent other mushrooms will be in the future, so always be careful with your dosage. If you have not done mushrooms before and are not familiar with their taste/appearance, make sure you have someone who you know has experience help you make sure that what you take isn't just a random mushroom. Look HERE for information and tips on mental/emotional health when using psychedelics.

Salvinorin A (Salvia)

Possible positive effects:
- Laughter

Possible neutral effects:
- Changes felt in gravity
- Language suppression
- Changes felt in bodily form
- Ego death
- Tactile hallucinations
- Motor control loss
- Delusions
- Dissociation
- Distortions
- Hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations

possible negative effects:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Fear

Overdose amount: No studies have been done

Class: Hallucinagen

Standard dosage: Dosage varies by strain and rout of administration. Look into the strain you're using before ingesting.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Abscesses

A skin abscess is a build up of pus within and underneath the skin. They are common among people who use needles. Read about how to safely use needles HERE. An abscess can feel warm and painful to the touch and appear as a red raised bump. They form when bacteria is trapped under the skin. They do not always occur at the injection site, so don't pass something off because of its location. If an abscess is untreated, the bacteria can spread into the blood and deeper tissue, which can cause a large number of other health problems. Do not try to cut or squeeze the abscess.

What you can do on your own:
- Use a warm compress
- Keep the area clean

When you should go to a doctor:
- If the abscess is larger than one half inch across
- There are red streaks around the abscess
- The abscess recurs or won't heal with home treatment

Addiction prevention

       Before talking about addiction prevention, I would like to provide a concise and comprehensive explanation of addiction. Your perception, both of your emotions and of your body, is shaped by the balance of chemicals in your brain. When you use a substance which quickly changes your perception, you are altering this chemical balance. Physical addiction is when your body and brain become used to these altered chemical levels. You can become physically addicted to any substance that has the potential to cause physical dependence - even if you never used it to feel high.
       Dopamine is one of the chemicals in your brain which helps motivate you to engage in healthy behaviors such as eating, socializing, and exercising. You take care of yourself, and your brain gets a bit of dopamine to encourage you to continue keeping yourself alive and well. If a person uses a dopamine-releasing drug every day, their brain will recognize that there is much more dopamine than usual, and produce less of it in an attempt to return to its normal chemical balance. But this means if they stop using this drug, their brain is no longer producing as much dopamine as it was before they started using regularly. Though it will return to that previously normal balance after a period of time (exactly how long varies by substance), the re-adjustment period is what we know as withdrawals, and it is an incredibly uncomfortable, painful, and - for some substances - dangerous process.
       Psychological addiction is just as serious as physical addiction, and the two often come hand in hand. Even substances which are not physically addictive can be psychologically addictive. Psychological addiction is when a person has used a substance in order to cope for an amount of time which has lead them to lose any other coping strategies that may have previously had for dealing with stress. This could look like a person using a certain substance every time they are feeling sad. When it comes to psychological addiction, one might not even be the same substance every time, but they feel the need to use something every time they are struggling.


       If you want to use recreationally without developing a dependence, there are a fair number of precautions you need to take.

1) Know the addiction potential of your drugs, and space out your use accordingly

       In general, it is safe to use the same drug once every one or two weeks. This is true in terms of physical addiction and protection from bodily harm. The notable exceptions to this are MDMA and MDA, both of which are likely to cause brain damage - including but not limited to serotonin syndrome - if used more than one every 30-40 days. It is also generally inadvisable to use psychedelics this frequently, both because it often takes around two weeks for the experience to fully settle, and because of the risk of brain damage from research chemicals, or drug-induced psychosis. Make sure you feel as though you have full perspective on the impact your experience had on you before using again. Using different forms of any opioid, stimulant, or benzodiazapine, is essentially the same as using the same substance. So taking hydrocodone on Monday, and morphine on Thursday, is not adhering to the 1-2 week rule.
       Of course, the 1-2 week rule can be broken while still maintaining perfect physical and emotional health - but don't forget that making exceptions to the rule should be an outlier. The moment it stops being abnormal to regularly use one substance more often than that, is when you should start to worry.


2) Keep yourself in a healthy routine

       Eat 2-3 good meals every day, keep your space and body clean, exercise, sleep, and socialize. If you have work or school, prioritize punctuality and deadlines. If at any point you find your use of any drug impairing your ability to do any one of these things more than once every 1-2 weeks, it's time to cut back on your use.


3) Watch for psychological changes

       Being physically well is a very helpful thing for maintaining your mental health, but there is always more you can do. Anyone who uses any substance (especially stimulants or psychedelics) on a semi-regular basis, should make sure that they consistently evaluate their mental state. Residual effects are not something that should be ignored, even if they aren't bothersome.


4) Stay away from people engaging in behaviors you do not want to take part in

      Even if you feel like you have above average self-control, being around addicts is the easiest way to make yourself into one. Your environment shapes you more than you think. The other side of this, is to intentionally have people in your life who value harm reduction and safety as much as you do.

Cold water extraction

What is a cold water extraction?

       A cold water extraction is a very simple method of separating two substances by water solubility.


When should I use a cold water extraction?

       You should use a cold water extraction any time that the amount of filler in a prescription opiate would lead to an overdose if you took the dose of the opiate you intend on taking. The most common fillers are acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid (asprin). 4,000mg of acetaminophen is considered toxic and puts you at risk of liver damage, but the overdose threshold is around 8,000mg. 150-300mg of acetylsalicylic acid is considered dangerous, and the lethal dose is around 500mg.


How does it work?

       Opiates - including fentanyl - are much more water soluble than the common fillers in prescription opiates, so when you use this method you will have water with the active ingredient in the pill, and solid filler which you can filter out. Cold water extractions will work to filter non-opiate material out of pressed pills.


Steps

1- Get hot water.

       Water from the tap is fine, as long as it's potable. If the water is too hot to touch, it may break down the opiates. You will want around 5-10ml of water per pill, depending on the quantity of filler. Never use more than 500ml of water for a single dose.

2- Crush the Pill(s). 

       Crush up the pill(s) the best that you can in a separate container.

3. Mix Into Water.

       Mix the crushed pill(s) into the warm water. The powder should be as evenly distributed as you can get it to be.

4. Chill the Solution

       Put the mixture in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, but don't wait long enough for it to freeze

5. Strain 

       The solid leftover is the filler you don't want, and the opiates are dissolved into the water. You can use a coffee filter or other similar object to strain out the filler material. Squeeze lightly to get all the liquid out of the filter.

Drug-Induced Delusions and Paranoia

       The information on how to help is something which applies to anyone experiencing a frightening delusion and or hallucination. But in a substance use context, there is one major difference - their distress will fade as the substance slowly exits their system. Unless of course they have done serious and permanent brain damage, which is incredibly unlikely and, for everyone's emotional well-being, shouldn't be considered a possibility until at least 4-5 days without the use of any psychoactive substance. In this section, when I talk about delusions and paranoia, I am assuming it will pass as the high passes. Read the section on drug-induced psychosis to learn more about the substances and circumstances which present higher risks of these kinds of symptoms persisting.

       Before I get into how to help someone, I'm going to talk briefly about when to help someone. Delusions caused by drug experiences are not inherently dangerous, and just because someone doesn't entirely know what is real, doesn't always mean they need help. Attempting to assist someone when they aren't a danger to themselves or others in some way (including psychological harm), can end up doing them more harm than good. A harmful temporary delusion is one which does one of the following:

- Consistently causes or increases paranoia
- Makes one believe they should or need to harm themselves
- Makes one believe that someone believe they need to (or may need to) harm someone else
- Leads them to want to do something reckless and or illegal
- Appears to be resulting in traumatizing amounts psychological distress


Helping With Intoxication-Induced Paranoia


       Paranoia is the urgent certainty that is something is wrong, and someone or something is trying to hurt you, regardless of circumstance. When someone is experiencing paranoia about a specific thing, it is not because their belief makes them feel paranoid - it is because their paranoia has cultivated and reinforced the belief. This is important to remember, because Someone who is feeling paranoid is very likely to associate any stress they feel with their paranoia. So, when someone feels that this malicious intent is being expressed by some sort of authority figure - regardless of whether that authority figure actually exists or is present - it is very likely that asking about or suggesting the involvement of any authority figure (police, doctors, family members, etc.), may lead to the person believing that you are trying to harm them as well. For the most part, the things which help a person with delusions will help someone with paranoia, but it is important to understand it as a separate issue.


Helping With Intoxication-Induced Delusions


Know when they need more help than you can give
       As much as we often want to help a friend who is distressed and detached, especially when you know about or are involved in the drug use which has lead to the issue, getting any outside help can feel like something you would never even consider. But when someone is a serious danger to themselves or others and you are unable to talk them down, or physically prevent them from violence, physical safety is more important than social safety. Also, in many US states, there is a law which protects you from having drug-related legal issues if you call 911 for a drug related emergency. I discuss this in the section about overdoses.

Address their feelings before their beliefs
       This is the thing you should remember, if nothing else. When someone doesn't know what is real, our first inclination is often to correct them. But this is actually one of the lowest-impact things we can do. Obviously it's worth giving a shot when you are just beginning to notice their delusion, but it should be done in the least confrontational way possible. Remember that anyone having trouble staying in touch with reality, probably needs clear and concise communication.
       Remember that it isn't generally a good idea to question someone on, or even let them talk in depth about, their delusion(s). This is because delusions are often created when someone accepts ideas they momentarily have about how things may be, usually while in a state of fear, as the truth. So allowing them to talk about it, can also mean helping them expand upon their delusion. Keeping them on other subjects, and focusing on addressing the feelings it causes is the best thing you can do. 
       For example, if someone says to you "I think there's someone in your house, I just heard a knife being taken out of the drawer in the kitchen.", but the kitchen is in plain view as you are in a studio apartment and the door is locked, you wouldn't want to ask more about what they heard or tell them they are being silly. A good thing to say in this situation might be "I'm pretty sure you're okay, you're safe at my house - I always lock the door". 
       In a situation where the delusion has been present for a longer period of time and/or you don't feel it would be a good idea to present an opposing point of view, you might want to say something like "It's never a good thing to not feel safe in your own house, would it be okay with you if I got up and checked the kitchen?" or "Is there somewhere else you'd like to go?". What's important is that you don't allow them to expand on their delusion, while helping them handle their fear, or other accompanying emotion.

Suggest safe alternative actions
       People with delusions sometimes think something dangerous is the safest option because they are scared. Keep them calm the best you can and help them find a safer way to feel secure. Of course, you shouldn’t agree with their delusion, but that is different from helping them feel safe even though they have that belief. 
       Let's say someone believed that someone was watching them through the window with the intention of coming inside to hurt them, so they wanted to run out into the front yard with a knife and confront the person. Obviously this person doesn't need to be holding something potentially dangerous, and shouldn't go outside waving around a knife and drawing attention to themselves. So you might offer to go check all the locks, close the blinds, or put something in front of the door. Just make sure you're making them feel safer, and not reinforcing the idea that they should be afraid.

Keep an eye on them
       If someone experiences brief or light delusions early on after taking a psychoactive substance, make sure to check in with them. If they acknowledge the delusion after it passes, still try to focus your attention on the feeling behind it rather than the specific belief, and help them ground themselves. Do what you can to keep their mind from returning to that thought, or similar thoughts.


Helping Yourself With Delusions

       There are a few specific things you can try to remember if you catch yourself having a delusional thought, or know some substances sometimes lead you personally to experience delusions.

If you know more than you should, it probably isn't real.
       Many hallucination accompanied delusions are ones in which you hallucinate, for example, footsteps on your back porch. When you hear those footsteps, you feel that you know it is a seven-foot tall man in a long black collared coat, and he is picking the lock. In fact, you can almost perfectly picture it. You might feel you know what someone is planning or thinking. Attempting to explain to yourself how it is that you know what you know, is one of the most effective ways to prevent yourself from forming a delusional belief. Just remember not to help yourself flesh out the delusion.

If it's all about you, it probably isn't real.
       This applies to things like "the FBI is watching me", where you might think a person or group of people are putting a lot of effort into trying to harm or monitor you. That would really be a ton of focus on you, when you haven't done anything or ever been confronted by anyone.

If everything suddenly makes sense but you've never had this idea before, it probably isn't real.
       That feeling of intense, horrifying realization, rarely if ever occurs in real life. The pieces of the puzzle that was why you felt uncomfortable or afraid, should not suddenly float together in front of your eyes.

Drug-Induced Psychosis

       Psychosis is what we call the condition that causes one to experience hallucinations, delusions, and detachment from reality. This is separate from specific psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Psychosis is just a description of a set of symptoms, which include hallucinations or delusions. This is not always serious, and most people with the symptoms of psychosis are able to function just fine with some amount of treatment.
       Substance-induced psychotic disorder is defined as any psychotic episode or condition developed after excessive or continuous use of a substance. Stimulants are the class of drug which most often cause this issue, followed by hallucinogens. It is nearly expected that a stimulant binge (especially with methamphetamine) will lead to temporary psychosis. Drug induced psychosis often includes persecutory delusions, which are delusions that you are being persecuted in some way (believing you are being spied on, followed, manipulated, or that someone intends to harm you). The following lists are loosely ordered in terms of risk, starting with the most risky behavior/substance.


Factors that can put you at higher risk for drug-induced psychosis:

- Family or personal history of any psychotic disorder
- Long term stimulant or hallucinogen use
- Heavy doses of stimulants or hallucinogens
- Research chemicals
- Mixing stimulants


Drugs which are most likely to lead to drug-induced psychosis:

- 25i
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine/Crack
- LSD
- MDMA/MDA


       Psychosis is one of the more notable and obvious mental issues that can arise from drug use, but it is far from the only one. Any time you put a recreational dose of a psychoactive drug in your body, you are putting yourself at risk. It is more common than you think, and it can happen to anyone. The best way to prevent serious mental health issues while still using psychoactive substances, is to keep track of your stability and mental health. Therapy, journaling, and staying in touch with friends, are all good ways to monitor yourself. It is incredibly difficult to accurately assess the mental state of someone who is using, or has very recently used, any psychoactive drug - especially illegal ones, due to lack of regulation. So if you notice something off about yourself, take a break for whatever amount of time you feel is reasonable and analyze your sober self. Are you as capable as you were before? If you aren't, take a longer break. If it isn't a temporary ailment, you need to address it, and continuing to use could worsen the issue. Read more about maintaining your mental health while using HERE.

Drug Interactions

       As a general rule, mixing psychoactive substances is going to increase your risk of bodily harm, and should be avoided. You should always check to make sure any substances you are deciding to take together will not result in bodily harm. This includes substances which don't get you high - particularly medications prescribed to you.

       Mixing alcohol with anything (Stimulants, Depressants, Opiates, and especially Benzodiazepines) except marijuana or psychedelics is very likely to cause a dangerous interaction - many people have reported unpleasant experiences mixing psychedelics and alcohol, despite lack of physical risk. 

       Mixing stimulants with depressants, including opiates, increases the risks that both substances carry. This risk is highest when a large amount of both substances has been taken, and lowest when only a small amount of one or both has been taken. The mixing of stimulants and depressants has also been known to cause what are often called "delusions of sobriety" in which the effects of the dissimilar substances seem to "cancel out", leaving the user feeling as though they are significantly less impaired than they actually are. This can easily lead to someone not noticing the signs of an overdose, or to deciding they are sober enough to drive when they really aren't. 

       Mixing stimulants with other stimulants largely increases your risk of brain damage - such as serotonin syndrome - and overdose risk. 

       Mixing depressants with depressants largely increases your risk of overdose.



Unusual Interactions

The following is a list of things that are harmful to ingest together, that aren't commonly mentioned:
  • Alcohol & Ibuprofen
  • Atorvastatin/Lovastatin/Simvastatin/Amiodarone/Aronedarone/Nifedipine/Verapamil/Felodipine, as well as certain kinds of immunosuppressants & Grapefruit or other citrus juices
  •  St. John’s Wort & SSRI's (Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc.)
  • Alcohol and LSD, though physically safe to mix, are known to cause unpleasant cognitive effects

Drug Interactions Chart














Drug safety

Don't drive

Drink enough water.

Be in good physical health.

Never take unidentified pills.

Never reuse or share needles.

Avoid mixing substances in general.

Always know what dose you are taking.

Know what to do in the case of an overdose.

Always know what the overdose threshold is.

Use drug testing kits (you can buy them on this site).

Avoid mixing alcohol with anything except marijuana.

Don’t just trust anyone to tell you what a substance is.

Be in a safe space where no one is going to bother you.

If you’re going to redose, take less than your initial dose.

Remember that you can always take more but you can never take less.

Always know what you are taking and  have a general idea of the effects.

Don't go out swimming/floating/paddling on a river. A lot of people die this way.

If you’re going to use needles really look into injection procedures beforehand.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, don't take anything. It's not worth the risk.

Always start with a lower dose, as purity of the substance and your tolerance vary.

Do a cold water extraction if you plan to take prescription opiates with fillers in them.

Be aware that tampons can make it more difficult for substances to flush out of your system

Don't be too lazy to do research or look up pill numbers, it's a really simple way to be more safe.

Have someone with you who knows what to do if something goes wrong (ideally a sober person).

If you take any kind of medication, look up interactions it may have with a drug before mixing them.

Be aware that drugs effect your mental state, decision making, and long-term mental health. Read more HERE.

Remember that most substances take about an hour to take full effect, so please don’t increase your dose after 20 minutes because you aren’t where you want to be.

If you take two substances which both have the potential to cause nausea, your risk of feeling nauseous or vomiting increases more than you would expect from either of the substances individually.

If you are taking prescription medications, check the bottle to see what it has in it aside from the active ingredient. Sometimes you will overdose from the fillers faster than you will from the substance you are intending to use.  

Don't use the same substance more than once or twice a week as you become very likely to form a physical dependence, which is hard on your body and mind. There are, of course, drugs which you cannot form a physical dependence on. Do not forget that psychological addiction is real and can be just as harmful as physical addiction. If you do find yourself with a physical dependence, you can try to ease off yourself or seek help.

Drug use vs drug abuse

It is very important to recognize the difference between drug use and drug abuse. Here are a few terms and misconceptions on this topic as well as some information on the stigma around drug addiction and around non-harmful drug use.

Drug Use -
The use of any drug. This includes alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and prescribed medication.

Drug Misuse -
Use of a legal or prescribed substance in a harmful and or unintended way. This can include taking more medication than prescribed to get high or forming harmful habits around alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine.

Drug Abuse -
Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations in your school, work, home, or social life.

Addiction/dependence -
The term used to describe a situation in which a person would experience negative symptoms from immediately discontinuing use. This includes both psychological and physical repercussions. Addiction is assumed if the person has been using regularly (Once every 1-2 days) for longer than a week or two and is reluctant to stop. Addiction is also assumed if the person has gained a tolerance and needs to take more than they initially did to feel effects. It is important to note that a person does not have to be getting high to form a physical dependence on a drug. Also, psychological addiction is often co-morbid with physical addiction.


What is the difference between drug use and abuse?

 Drug use is not always unhealthy while, by definition, drug abuse is impairing your ability to lead a normal lifestyle. It is possible to use drugs in a healthy, non life-impairing way. This applies to both legal and illegal substances. Drug use turns into drug abuse when they begin to use as an addict would, whether or not addiction has yet to form.


What is the difference between misuse and abuse?


Misuse is when you use a substance in a way that it is not intended such as taking more medication than prescribed to get high or forming harmful habits around alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine. This would turn into drug abuse if you began to experience an inability to live your life as you did before the drug use began due to the use of the substance. This could look like someone begins taking more anti-anxiety medication than prescribed and begins to ignore friends in favor of getting high.


What does physical addiction mean?

Addiction is the point at which you experience withdrawal from discontinuing use. This happens because your brain becomes accustomed to the altered chemical levels and when they suddenly return to normal it is very unpleasant.


Can addiction exist outside of physical dependence?

The answer I am sad to give to you is yes. Addiction does not always mean you are physically dependent. Psychological addiction exists and is just as harmful as physical addiction. Here are some examples of habits that aren’t physically addiction forming but CAN cause a psychological dependence:

- The use of many substances where, if all drugs had the same properties, it would form an -addiction.
- The use of a non-chemically addictive drug, such as marijuana, in a habitual and consistent way.
- Things like self-harm or purging


Is addiction always bad?

Drug addiction implies only that you are somehow dependent on the substance. There are people who smoke cigarettes and drink coffee every single day who would shake and have headaches if they stopped. These people are, in the most technical sense, addicted to drugs. Also, there are are people who are consistently taking opiates for pain and would experience withdrawal symptoms if they were to stop taking their medication. But we would not consider these people addicts in the same way we would someone smoking meth or heroin. This is the line that exists between addiction and abuse. Also, take a look at my post on misconceptions about addicts HERE to understand a bit more about the behavior of addicts.


A note before we get into this next section:

No one wants to be accused of encouraging risky behaviors so I will say this now: I am not telling you to use drugs. I do, however, very strongly believe in harm-reduction based education, especially in relation to substance use. I want to give you the all the facts you could need to stay safe, not just the ones that apply to legal behaviors.


The stigma around drug education

We teach drug use in the sad and ineffective way we used to teach sex education: abstinence only. (Just kidding we still use abstinence only sex-ed in 23% of public schools in the U.S.*) It is silly to tell someone not to ever use drugs because it is bad for them in the same way it is ineffective to tell teens not to have sex because they could get an STI or cause a pregnancy. Both these things feel good but have risks and people are scared to talk about safety or experience in fear of being accused of encouraging risky behavior. 


 Is there a difference between the use/abuse of legal and illegal substances?

Yes, absolutely. There are two main differences. The first is that most drugs that are illegal completely or only available as a prescription, have some danger of brain damage or death if used recklessly. The second, equally important difference, is there is less education on safe use. We will tell people “Don’t drink eight energy drinks in one sitting, you will get really tired and have lots of headaches and it could even be bad for your heart”. But we don’t tell people “Don’t do more than 1-2 points of ecstasy in a month because you run the risk of getting serotonin syndrome which can make life really tiring forever or even kill you”. The lack of availability of educational resources


Can the use of illegal substances ever be helpful?

Many illegal substances have positive cognitive effects such as helping with depression or anxiety. They can also help with relaxation, sleep, and self-awareness. Of course, these positives do not erase the risks.

For some ways to stay safe when using psychoactive substances, look HERE.


Ego death

Ego death is a term used to describe the highest level of memory suppression, in which you are no longer able to remember or understand conceptual information including concepts related with one's sense of self and identity. It causes your experience to be unaffected by memories, experiences, contexts, or bias, simply because you no longer have a sense of what "I" means. This does not erase the person your past has shaped you into, it only makes you not remember as it.

Fentanyl

       Fentanyl is a drug that is often sold as opiates or benzodiazapines. It is a depressant, and has similar effects to these substances. It is used because it is much cheaper than any alternative. However, it is incredibly potent, and is diluted before being sold as other substances. But it is easy to misjudge how much fentanyl you're adding into heroin or putting on a pill, and even one extra drop can lead to a person overdosing from what they were told would be a safe recreational dose. Fentanyl is also the reason for the presence of areas in a substance (usually heroin) that are seemingly much more potent than the rest, or a "hot spot". You can buy fentanyl test strips HERE.

Harm reduction

       Harm reduction is about focusing on education for risky drug-related behaviors, and choosing to teach people to be safe, rather than attempting to enforce abstinence. Many people use some kind of drug in their life, whether it be alcohol, marijuana, or something more illicit. When using any psychoactive substance it is important to remain safe, as there are always dangers. It is common practice to tell people how much would be dangerous to drink because it keeps them safe and aware. From a harm reduction standpoint we should treat all substances in this manner, whether they are illegal or not. By teaching people what substances do, what dangers they bring, and how to use them safely, we prevent brain damage, addiction, and death.

Mental Health and Safety in Relation to Drug Use

       There are many physical risks to be aware of when using drugs, and I have talked about many of them in depth on the rest of this site. But there are also many mental/emotional/social factors to consider when using psychoactive substances. The things I talk about here are drastically more important for the hallucinogen, psychedelic, and dissociative side of things, though it can apply to any substance (Terminology). I also encourage you to take a look at my post on physical drug safety HERE.

very very important note:


       I talk about a lot of stuff in this section that may seem a little paranoid to the seasoned drug user. I would like to acknowledge that not all of these things apply to every person, for every substance, every time. These things are just generally good guidelines to follow if you have little experience, are trying something new, or if you are a nervous about your reaction. I do not want to scare you and say "drugs will make you lose control so lock yourself in a padded room and interact with no one if you must use them" because that is ridiculous and simply untrue. Intoxicated you, is still you. Nonetheless, substance use does have the ability to detach you from your memories, or awareness of social constructs, which can cause you to do things you otherwise would not. This is one of many reasons it is important to be careful with your dose and start low if you don't know what to expect, or are in a notably different setting from what you are used to.



People

       When you are under the influence of a substance you are much easier to influence. If you are around people who would like to convince you of something you would not otherwise believe, it will be easier for them to change your mind if you are intoxicated. This can mean anything from someone talking you into an activity you wouldn't otherwise participate in to believing something is wrong that you would otherwise have thought was wrong. The latter is especially important to be aware of with psychedelic usage as the belief can continue to exist even after the substance is out of your system. Also, when you are intoxicated you are more likely to disclose things you otherwise would not, so keep that in mind. People you are with while under the influence should be people you have spent time with before and consider trustworthy.

Setting

       Where you are can have an large impact on your emotional state while using any substance.Your setting should be somewhere private where you and anyone you're with will not be disturbed where you feel comfortable. It is also good to take into account the availability of a bathroom and kitchen. If you are with other people you should have some kind of space where you could be alone if you wanted to. It is also good to have access to both an inside and an outside area.
       Aside from that, ask yourself if you would be able to do something stupid there. Intoxicated you is not usually the side of you who is diligent about physical safety. Is there a sword on the wall? Is there an 8th story balcony? Are you by a busy road? Set some limits based on these things. 


Present Life

       Always remember that many substances, especially psychedelics, and to a degree alcohol, can amplify your current emotional state. If you are upset, confused, or grieving, ask yourself if you are ready to handle an amplified emotional state. 
       When you are under the influence of any substance, especially psychedelics, you have the chance of seeing yourself from an objective point of view. This means seeing things you have done and thought in the past with no memory of the motivations behind your choices. This state of mind can lead to individuals realizing just how badly they treated someone, or admitting something to themselves and others they otherwise would not have, this can entail things like:

- Large lies one has carried for a long time
- Cruel things you have done to others
- Substance abuse problems
- Hidden anger or love
- Sexuality/gender
- Mental illness
- Past trauma 
- Guilt

       Substance use not only increases the probability you may disclose these things to others but also makes them easier to admit to yourself or internalize. While that can be a good thing that helps you grow and understand who you are, if there is something in your past, or something about yourself, which you are not ready to face, maybe stay away from the psychedelic side of substances.


Mental Health

The bad stuff:

       Everything I said in the previous section applies even more in this area. Drug use can cause individuals with mental health issues to have to face how much it effects them, confront how well they have been taking care of themselves, see how their struggle has effected others, think on trauma more than they are ready to, or just plain make things worse for a little while.
       Drugs in the stimulant class are worse for those with depression because the after effects (hangover) are similar to the effects of depression and it can render usually effective coping strategies useless for a day or two. This is especially true with MDA and MDMA.
       I would also like to note that most people with psychosis, or psychotic disorders,  often have very polarized experiences with psychedelics. If you have any type of psychotic disorder, taking into account the things from the previous sections is extra important.
       Any drug which alters the reuptake or production of serotonin can cause something called serotonin syndrome which, to put it super simply, is like being stuck on the tail end of a flu. The drugs which put you at the most risk for this are cocaine/crackMDAand MDMA.

The good stuff:
       
       Drug use can temporarily take away the symptoms of many mental illnesses. While this can be very compelling, it is also the reason that people with mental illnesses are much more prone to drug abuse and addiction. Healthy drug use is when you use the experience to give yourself an idea of what you want to feel like, and reach for it while sober. Substance use can help you understand what better feels like, but it cannot keep you there. One should never feel that good feelings can only be obtained through, or during, substance use. 
      Many psychedelics (namely psilocybin and LSD) have an "afterglow" effect where the user feels much more content with life, and themselves, for a day or two after use. Some substances, (namely psilocybin, LSDMDA, and MDMA) can help people be more confidant and comfortable with themselves after use, both in a physical sense and in an existential sense. Psychedelics have no chemically addictive properties we have found and have even been shown to help suppress other addictions one may be struggling with. The use of psychoactive substances also gives one the experience of personal bias suppression which can give them an opportunity learn to treat people as equals and have respect for others points of view.

Anxiety:


       Sometimes, people can have a lot of anxiety while using psychoactive substances, especially marijuana, and LSD. Here are a few tips on staying calm:



- Use a test kit
- Have a grounding object
- Know the possible dangers of the substance
- Close your eyes and focus on your breathing
- Keep in mind the outlined physical safety principals
- Have a person there to tell you they are making sure you are safe
- Be aware of how you can handle delusions and paranoia that may occur during use
- If this is a substance with overdose potential, know what to do in case of an overdose