Psychedelic Safety: Crisis & Support Resources for Harm Reduction
MEDICAL REVIEW BY:
Dr. Elizabeth Shuler, PsyD.,
Dr. Elizabeth Shuler, PsyD.
Dr. Elizabeth Shuler is the founder of Inner Evolution Coaching, a professional coaching practice that supports expats and others worldwide in healing, growing, and evolving. She is a mind-body coach, psychedelic integration coach, and yoga therapist with over 14 years of experience. Liz is also a certified yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and Ayurveda specialist. She holds a PsyD from California Southern University and an MSc in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wyoming.March 18, 2024
Psychedelics can affect people differently, and there can be times when support is needed. Below is a list of services and resources that can provide crisis support, education, and guidance to individuals before, during, or after psychedelic use.
Psychedelics Support Lines
Individuals using psychedelics may encounter situations in which they require physical or mental health support for themselves or someone they are with. Here are some resources and support lines to help with your psychedelic experience.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, offering suicide prevention and crisis resources for individuals and their loved ones and best practices for professionals in the United States.
People needing crisis support can call or text 988 or use the Chat Service on the 988 website to contact trained staff. In the event of a medical emergency, call 911.
Fireside Project
The Psychedelic Support Line is a service offered by Fireside Project that provides free, confidential, non-clinical emotional support during and after psychedelic experiences. According to the Fireside Project, the Psychedelic Support Line is staffed by rigorously trained, compassionate, supportive volunteers from diverse backgrounds who listen deeply and from a place of non-judgment. The line is only available in the United States at present, but will soon expand to Canada.
The support line cannot provide medical care, psychotherapy, psychedelic integration support, or professional treatment. In the event of a medical emergency, call 911.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Spiritual Crisis Network UK
The Spiritual Crisis Network is a UK-based organization with trained volunteers who provide email support, community forums, peer support groups, and advice for people experiencing a spiritual crisis or emergency.
Individuals can contact the email support service about themselves or someone they are supporting and will receive a response from supportive volunteers.
The Spiritual Crisis Network also provides peer-led support groups in England for people who have experienced a spiritual crisis, where they can share their experiences and receive support to understand and integrate these experiences. People who cannot access local groups can also attend online peer-support groups.
National Overdose Response Service
The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) is an overdose prevention hotline that can be accessed by individuals in Canada 24/7, 365 days a year.
NORS provides confidential and non-judgmental support, by volunteers trained in mental health first aid and psychosis de-escalation. They can provide support to people using substances and their families or loved ones. The organization aims to reduce the risk of drug-related harm and overdose.
Never Use Alone
Never Use Alone is a nonprofit organization providing a crisis hotline for substance use. People calling the hotline can speak to volunteers who have personal experience with substance use.
Volunteers gather information about the individual, including their location and the substance they will use. They remain on the line while the drug is administered to ensure safety and can call emergency services if the individual becomes non-responsive. The goal is to reduce the risk of harm and overdose.
Psychedelic Education and Harm Reduction
It can be beneficial to access educational resources and information before using psychedelics, to gain an understanding of the potential effects and dangers. Various organizations provide online psychedelic education resources.
Psychedelic Support
Psychedelic Support offers numerous educational resources to enhance knowledge around psychedelics, including:
- Free online courses such as Psychedelics 101, Harm Reduction, and Best Practices
- Courses and training, such as professional and public courses, training programs, and workshops
- Access to specialized providers for skill development
- Access to free online events with expert speakers
The National Harm Reduction Coalition
The National Harm Reduction Coalition provides educational resources relating to the safe use and administration of psychedelics and other substances. It provides information about harm reduction and online courses.
Zendo Project
The Zendo Project offers online and in-person education to individuals, communities, and organizations to promote psychedelic harm reduction and peer support. They can attend events and festivals to provide training, workshops, and online courses and information. This includes education around:
- Psychedelic harm reduction
- Managing challenging or extreme states of consciousness
- Gaining skills to become a sitter or facilitator
- The importance of setting and mental state
Dance Safe
Dance Safe offers harm reduction information and resources relating to psychedelics and other substances. Their services include drug testing kits, fentanyl test strips, and educational material. This includes:
- Drug information about specific substances, doses, and effects
- Drug checking, including how to test drugs and understand test results
- Health and safety, including physical and sexual health and harm reduction initiatives
The Psychedelic Society
The Psychedelic Society is a not-for-profit worker cooperative that advocates for the healing potential of psychedelics. They offer resources and education about harm reduction, psychedelic integration, and safety. They also offer retreats, events, and a library of educational programs.
ThirdWave
Thirdwave is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to provide research-based content for responsible psychedelic use. The Third Wave also offers an extensive network of vetted psychedelic providers, a psychedelic retreat hub, and other related resources. Their resources include:
- Education about specific substances
- Provider network
- Professional training
- Psychedelic Coaching and Coach Certification
Erowid
Erowid is a member-supported organization that provides information about psychoactive plants and chemicals, including facts about dosage, effects, history, laws, and testing. As one of the longest-running hard reduction and education non-profits, Erowid has the most extensive library of education materials on a range of psychoactive substances.
They utilize academic, medical, and expert knowledge and resources to collect and share non-judgmental information and guidance to individuals wanting to learn more about various substances.
Drug Testing Kits and Safety Supplies
It is often not possible to accurately determine a substance’s purity and potency at face value, Which may lead to uncomfortable or potentially hazardous experiences. Testing drugs before use can provide additional information about their contents and allow informed decisions about use and dosing.
Websites and organizations that provide and sell drug testing include:
Dance Safe
Dance Safe offers drug testing services:
- In-person: the organization attends events and festivals using test kits and machines to check substances.
- At home: Testing kits can be bought through the website, including test strips to check for the presence of a specific drug and reagents to indicate unexpected or suspicious reactions.
- In a lab: Individuals can send their drug samples to be tested, which provides accurate and specific results.
Substance Drug Checking
Substance Drug Checking is a service offered in British Columbia, Canada. Individuals can attend in person with a sample or send a sample to the lab, which can be tested using various instruments and machines.
Test Kit Plus
Test Kit Plus is based in Canada and ships products around the world. They offer a range of drug testing kits that can be purchased and delivered, including various drug identification kits and drug purity kits.
Test Your Poison
Test Your Poison is another Canada-based company dedicated to safer drug experiences through purity testing. They aim to offer safety, quality control, and education to all those looking to make informed choices about the drugs they use. They offer a range of at-home purity testing kits, including fentanyl test strips, MDMA purity test kits, and ketamine test kits, and deliver to Canada, North America, and overseas.
Tripsitter Resources
Tripsitters, guides, and psychedelic integration coaches are people who can provide support and guidance to individuals wishing to engage in a psychedelic experience. They can help with preparation, navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness, and contemplating and learning from the psychedelic journey.
Psychedelic Passage
Psychedelic Passage offers tripsitting and psychedelic guide services across the United States. They offer support for psychedelic experiences, including preparation, ceremonial experiences, and integration, in a safe and non-judgmental setting. Psychedelic Passage also offers a small selection of educational courses on tripsitting, integration psychedelic preparation, and more.
Tripsitter Clinic
Tripsitter Clinic is a platform that offers psychedelic-assisted healing through a physician-directed treatment plan. It provides at-home low-dose ketamine treatment sessions supported by trained psychedelic tripsitters.
The service is aimed at providing sustained relief for various mental health conditions and symptoms with the use of psychedelic medicine. Clients can download the app to prepare for and facilitate the process, with the treatment being provided during at-home sessions.
TripSit
TripSit offers information and support to individuals using psychedelic substances. They have a mobile app and online chat service to provide support and information. They can provide guides or tripsitters for people struggling with a non-ordinary state of consciousness or feeling that they need additional support.
They offer a friendly and supportive network of volunteers who are available 24/7, provide information about harm reduction techniques such as drug testing, and promote discussions around psychedelic use.
Nectara
Nectara offers services on an app, over the phone, and in person, in Canada, the US, Peru, Costa Rica, and Mexico. They provide a psychedelic preparation and integration service for individuals to navigate the psychedelic experience with an experienced and thoroughly vetted guide.
Their guides offer a range of expertise, methods, and substances, allowing individuals to choose an experience that suits their desires and needs.
Psychedelics Integration
Psychedelics Integration provides qualified and experienced psychedelic coaches with a range of expertise and substance use experience. They can offer support to help individuals prepare for and integrate knowledge and emotional outcomes discovered through psychedelic experiences.
The team includes numerous experienced professionals, including guides with training and qualifications in psychology, breathwork, trauma, mindfulness, and relationships, who specialize in a range of psychedelic substances.
For more on this check out our Student’s Guide to Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Navigating Challenging Experiences
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Disclaimer | In Crisis?
In Crisis?
If you are in crisis or contemplating self-harm or suicide, please call 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org, which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7 in the United States. An extensive list of International suicide prevention hotlines can be found there. Remember: You are needed, you deserve to be here, and you are not alone. Reach out, and do not give up.
Having a Challenging Trip?
If you are experiencing a difficult psychedelic event, or still need help processing one, call or text 62-FIRESIDE. The Fireside Project offers free emotional support during or after a psychedelic experience. You can also download their app. Their services are completely confidential, and their staff is rigorously trained, compassionate, and knowledgeable regarding psychedelics. You can also contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at (800) 622-HELP (4357). Their confidential helpline is available 24/7 in English and Spanish for individuals and family members experiencing emotional distress or crisis.
Additional support resources can be found in the Zendo Project directory. The Zendo Project was founded in partnership with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Their extensive list of harm reduction resources, emotional support services, and peer support hotlines offer a vast array of tools to help you move through a challenging experience and come out the other side feeling empowered and secure.
Having a Medical Emergency?
If you or a loved one are experiencing a medical emergency and require immediate attention, please dial 911 (USA) immediately.
Are You a Veteran Having a Medical Emergency?
If you are a veteran experiencing a difficult trip or crisis, please contact (800) 273-8255 and Press 1. This will connect you to the Veteran Crisis Line. Their hotline is staffed by experienced personnel, many of whom are also veterans. A trained responder will answer your call 24/7 to help you through a crisis, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm.
Emotional and Crisis Support for the LGBTQIA+ Community.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community may face unique and difficult situations during a challenging psychedelic experience. If you need emotional or crisis support, dial (888) 688-5428 or visit LGBThotline.org. Their hotline is designed for people of all ages and staffed by a dedicated team of highly trained volunteers from all parts of the LGBT+ community. They also offer a dedicated line for LGBT+ seniors that you can reach at (888) 234-7243.
Be Wary of Fentanyl-Contaminated Drugs.
The United States is experiencing a synthetic opioid epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives due to street drugs being adulterated with other drugs, such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful and deadly narcotic, with doses as low as two milligrams (a dose so small it could fit on the tip of a pencil) being potentially deadly. While it is never recommended to consume any illicit substances, it is critical that you or the people you know test any drugs you may ingest for fentanyl. Several non-profit harm reduction organizations, such as DanceSafe, offer fentanyl testing strips and at-home drug testing kits.
Medical Disclaimer
The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Some individuals with preexisting mental health conditions should not use psychedelics. Always consult with a trained medical professional about your specific healthcare needs.
Are Psychedelics Legal?
Most classical and non-classical psychedelic drugs are prohibited in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This family of chemical compounds are considered Schedule I drugs, the most tightly controlled and generally illegal class. This includes psilocybin (aka Magic Mushrooms), Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Ayahuasca, Ibogaine, Peyote, 2C-B, Cannabis, and others. Ketamine is also controlled under the same act and listed as a Schedule III drug. Due to the illegal or controlled nature of these drugs, it is not advised that you attempt to purchase, source, or otherwise possess any Scheduled substances, as you may be at risk of civil and criminal penalties.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is intended for informational and harm reduction purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Nor is this information, or any journalistic stories, anecdotes, visual or artistic material intended as a replacement or supplement for medical or legal advice. It is important to understand that using any psychedelic compounds from the streets has significant risks and is unlikely to produce the promising results emerging in some clinical trials which involve particular dosing and purity, along with specific, carefully crafted psychotherapy in a safe, controlled environment. Various psychedelics purchased illegally often are adulterated with other, possibly harmful substances, making it difficult and not advisable to self-medicate for PTSD, anxiety, depression, or for the treatment of other mental health issues.