The MoCo Psychedelic Society
Risks
A psychedelic journey can present risks (1, 2), but there are ways to prepare and sources of help. First-time users of a psychedelic substance should absolutely NOT journey alone. For safety, journey only with a well-informed friend(s) or trusted professional(s). Any psychedelic subtance should be tested! Threre are other considerations and
Adulterated Substances and Testing
When considering the use of psychedelics, safety should always come first. One of the most significant risks associated with these substances is the potential for adulteration. Illegally sourced psychedelics may be contaminated with harmful additives or entirely substituted with dangerous substances, putting users at serious risk.
Testing your substances is a critical step to ensure they are pure and free of contaminants. Reagent testing kits are widely available and provide a quick way to identify common adulterants. These kits are simple to use and can detect substances that might not only dilute the experience but also pose significant health risks.
By taking the time to verify the substance’s authenticity, you’re prioritizing your well-being and creating a safer foundation for your experience. Remember, understanding what you're taking is essential for achieving the intended outcomes and avoiding unnecessary harm.
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Drug Testing
There are two reasons one should consider testing their drugs/medicines before using them:
Test Kits
1) To confirm the presence of the desired medicine, and
2) To ensure that there are no harmful adulterants in the medicine.
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The leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45 is currently opioid overdose (Refs 2, 3), largely due to the presence of fentanyl and its analogs in the unregulated drug supply. Often fatal when ingested, this adulterant has been found in non-opioid drugs including MDMA and ketamine. While mushrooms and plant medicines are unlikely to be contaminated, their illegal status makes it possible. Consider testing each batch of drugs for the presence of fentanyl and having a naloxone nasal spray on hand to protect yourself and others.
Naloxone
Antidote to opioid overdose
If an individual is overdosing from fentanyl or another opioid, administering the naloxone nasal spray to them will save their life. Everyone who uses drugs, or is in contact with someone who does, should have access to a naloxone nasal spray, and know how to use it. Narcan sprays are available for free from several sources (including https://nextdistro.org/maryland), and pharmacies in Maryland are required to provide them without a prescription.
Fentanyl Test Strips
Checking drugs for presence of Fentanyl
With the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45 now being opioid overdose (Refs 2, 3), drug users should consider testing each batch or lot of drugs be tested for the presence of Fentanyl. This extremely strong opioid is the major cause of the current overdose-death trends. Order these inexpensive test strips and more from one of the sources listed below:
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https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-single-strip-free-shipping/
Positive Drug Tests
Confirming presence of desired drug
Due to the unregulated nature of the underground drug market, unscrupulous dealers can profit from selling other chemicals as psychedelic medicines. For example, cathinones are dangerous "bath salts" that are often substituted for MDMA; consuming them may have stimulating effects, but will not yield euphoria or empathogenic effects and can lead to psychosis (4). It is important to use at-home tests to confirm the presence of your desired substance, when possible. At-home kits to test for the presence of mescaline, MDMA, LSD, ketamine and more are available to order online (for example, from https://dancesafe.org/ or https://bunkpolice.com/).