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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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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