Open and honest conversations about substance use requires appropriate scientific understanding of the substances as well as the potential benefits and likely risks they present. The resources below are good starting points for uncovering the facts about drugs and dispelling some of the unfounded myths.
From here, you can do your own research and make your own decisions.
What are some of your favorite resources for information and harm reduction? Let us know.
Books
Drug-Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fears
This book, written by Dr. Carl Hart, isn’t about specific drugs, but it provides shocking information about the systemic racism in our drug enforcement laws and the way addiction science and research has been distorted or completely covered up by our government to continue the “War on Drugs,” which is mostly just a war on minorities.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
I cannot tell you how excited I was when Omnivore’s Dilemma author Michael Pollen published How to Change Your Mind. Told in Pollen’s polished journalistic style, this book not only reveals the history of psychedelics, from early research to their vilification in the 70s, but also reveals Pollen’s own personal experimentation with various types. The popularity of this book gives me hope about being able to have open and honest discussions about psychedelics in the future. This is here rather than in the Resources section because it is more journalist in nature than actually a guide.
The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys
Psychedelic research James Fadiman’s guide to various drug experiences.
Say Why to Drugs
Each chapter of Dr. Suzi Gage‘s book is dedicated to a different substance with the exception of the final two, which talk about addiction and drug use in the real world respectively. There’s also a podcast.
Documentaries
DMT: The Spirit Molecule
If you have any interest in taking DMT, this is a great place to start gathering info.
Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia
Chemist and anthologist Hamilton Morris explores a variety of substances across the three seasons of his Vice TV documentary show.
Neurons to Nirvana: Understanding Psychedelic Medicines
This documentary takes a in-depth look at the medical value of various psychedelics and MDMA. This film highlights how ridiculous a DEA Schedule 1 designation (i.e., no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse) is for these substances.
Websites
Bluelight
This is an active forum community that contains loads of info about drugs.
Erowid
A top-notch page for info about drugs, here you will find info on dose ranges, personal logs of experiences, and harm reduction.
Raving Anthropology
I only just found this blog as I was writing about a depiction of drug use from The West Wing, but I was impressed with Hilary Agro’s write up about GHB. I need to read more, but from what I’ve seen on her site, I dig what she is trying to do.
TripSit
Another great site for harm reduction, TripSit.Me has this amazing chart that shows how various substances interact. Cross reference this chart before combining any drugs!
Video Clips
MDMA’s Impact on Romantic Relationships
This research report on the effect of MDMA experiences on established romantic relationships covers both during the roll and afterward. There are some great quotes from the interviewed participants.
YouTube Channels
The Drug Classroom
If you want an in-depth look into a substance, this YouTube channel is the way to go. Seth takes a deep-dive not only into the positive and negative effects of drugs but also breaks down the chemical compounds, their history, and how the body responds. Seth has branched out and has a website and podcast now. I’ll need to dig into those.
Drugs Lab
I like Drugs Lab more for the entertainment value than information. As I understand it, this channel is sponsored by the government of the Netherlands. The channels’ hosts take drugs and film the experience. It’s not in English, which makes it all the more fun to listen to and read the closed captions.
PsychedSubstance
One of my favorite YouTube channels for info and entertainment, Adam is an open and honest commentator about his various experiences, both good and bad. He is funny, genuine, and gives loads of information about harm reduction.
News
How Using MDMA During Therapy Helps People Heal From Trauma
Good article by Suzannah Weiss (who had a dearth of articles about medical substances use) about the therapeutic benefits of MDMA. Given how much and how readily people benefit from this drug, it’s hard to see how this can remain listed as Schedule I (no medical value) for long. And once it’s properly classified and researched, maybe some of the negative stigma and baseless myths around MDMA will start to fall off.
Stoned Sex: Who’s Up for a Psychedelic Threesome?
Here’s an article by Sophie Saint Thomas. I found this one interesting because Erin and I have yet to have full-on sex on shrooms or LSD as is discussed in this article (update: We have had sex on shrooms!). We’ve managed on 2C-B, and it was awesome. We’ve also had a bad swap experience on 2C-B. Given that experience, we’ve taken a psychedelics + swinging = bad times mentality. However, I can see how a threesome experience, where everyone is vibing together rather than separate play could be better than what we experienced.
I was surprised none of the 2C series of psychedelics were mentioned in this article because they are much easier to navigate mentally and emotionally. 2C-B in particular is known to promote sexual feelings. I’d say it’s the training-wheels psychedelic for general tripping and for sex while tripping.
I wasn’t surprised that cannabis and MDMA were discussed in this article as they are often compared to and discussed alongside psychedelics, particularly in a research/journalistic sense (note the title of the article below; it happens all the time). I was a little disappointed that the article conflated these with psychedelics rather than making a distinction. But maybe I’m being too much a pedant once again, and I should just let this point go.
Socially Anxious People Are Taking MDMA and Other Psychedelics to Cope
Here’s an article from Vice.com by Shayla Love that I found interesting. Erin has used MDMA to overcome her social anxiety, so that part hit close to home. However, I can’t imagine trying the same with a psychedelic unless it’s a microdose. Taking shrooms and then going out to socialize seems like a bad trip in the making. At least a music festivals, where tripping on shrooms or LSD is prevalent, the user is in a space where such drugs are anticipated and accepted. One issue I have with the article is it suggests MDMA is a psychedelic, which it is not. This mistake happens often.