_Reflection Point #1
What’s driving your interest?
Your intention for exploring psychedelics matters more than you might think. While there’s no “right” reason, understanding your motivation can help you determine whether psychedelics are right for you or right for you right now.
Common motivations include:
Personal growth
Some use psychedelics out of a desire to deepen self-awareness and understanding.
But sometimes diving deep can lead to unwanted or unexpected insights that can be destabilizing
_Ask: Are you in a mental and emotional place to process potentially challenging experiences? Do you have a trusted, sober sitter?
Mental or emotional health
There’s promising research into psychedelic-assisted therapies when conducted in controlled environments with trained therapists and professional support.
Using psychedelics outside of a controlled setting is not the same and is not a substitute for professional mental health support.
_Ask: Have you talked to a mental health professional to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy makes sense for you?
Spiritual and consciousness exploration
Whether you’re seeking mystical experiences or wanting to access different states of mind, psychedelic experiences can range from subtle to profoundly intense, even leading to major shifts in your worldview.
_Ask: What draws you to psychedelics over other paths, like breath-work, flow-state practices or meditation?
Creative expression and insight
Psychedelics might provide an avenue to access new perspectives or break through creative blocks.
And while some report enhanced creativity, that experience isn’t guaranteed.
_Ask: What would meaningful creative insight look like for you?
Learning and curiosity
You may be drawn to psychedelics because of growing research and cultural conversations.
_Ask: What kind of understanding are you really seeking?
Fun and social connectedness
This intention is as valid as any other and, like any other, it requires careful consideration.
_Ask: Have I thought through the 3 Ss – ‘set, setting and support’ – including who is my trusted, sober sitter and what to do if things get uncomfortable?
_Reflection Point #2
Have you reviewed your health history?
Your physical and mental health background isn’t just a checkbox—it’s crucial for your safety.
Understanding these risks before making any decisions and talking about them with a healthcare professional could prevent dangerous outcomes.
Your mental health
- If you have experienced conditions like psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, pause here because psychedelics can trigger serious episodes.
- Currently taking mental health medications? Psychedelics can interact dangerously with many, especially antidepressants and lithium.
- Had challenging experiences with psychedelics before? This is an important warning sign.
- Dealing with trauma? Talk to a mental health professional first.
Your physical health
- Currently taking medications? Many psychedelics can interact dangerously with common prescription drugs especially antidepressants or heart medications.
- Do you have any heart conditions, high blood pressure, or history of seizures? Talk to your medical provider first about the risks.
- Pregnant or might be? Use of psychedelics is not recommended.
Family health history
Has anyone in your immediate family experienced:
- Mental health conditions like psychosis, schizophrenia, depression, panic attacks or bipolar disorder?
- Serious reactions to medications or psychedelic substances?
- Heart conditions or seizure disorders?
- These conditions or experiences could indicate how your body might react, even if you’ve personally never had issues. Talk to your medical provider first.
Each psychedelic substance has a different risk profile, click here for more information by individual drug.
_Reflection Point #3
How do you process uncertainty?
Psychedelics can make you more open and vulnerable than you might expect.
This vulnerability isn’t inherently good or bad — but knowing how you typically handle uncertain or intense situations can help you decide if you’re ready for an experience that might challenge your sense of control.
Things to Know and Explore:
Trips can last from 4-6 hours on psilocybin mushrooms to up to 12 hours on LSD. During this time, a person is in an altered state of consciousness and can experience ego dissolution, time stretching, feeling like you’re in a waking dream, or detachment from reality.
The things happening inside your mind and in your environment are amplified when on psychedelics, which is why it’s important to trip in a safe space with people you trust, including a sober sitter.
When you’re on psychedelics, you’re more suggestible and vulnerable to people and surroundings, creating the potential for manipulation or abuse.
You may feel like you’re not in control of your trip. Different substances generally offer different amounts of control.
Psychedelics produce a different experience or “trip” each time, especially with higher doses. Regardless of how much experience you have, prepare for the unexpected.
Things to Consider:
What’s your experience with feeling vulnerable or out of control?
How do you typically handle unexpected situations?
How do you cope when things don’t go as planned?
Are you comfortable experiencing difficult emotions?
Interested in exploring altered states of consciousness while maintaining more personal control? Check out these books:
“The Book of Highs: 255 Ways to Alter Your Consciousness Without Drugs”
by Edward Rosenfeld
“Altered States of Consciousness”
by Charles T. Tart
“Holotropic Breathwork: A new approach to self-exploration and therapy”
by Stanislav and Christina Grof
“Am I Dreaming?”
by James Kingsland
_Reflection Point #4
Do you know about Set, Setting and Support?
The ‘3 Ss’ are fundamental to psychedelic experience. Understanding each element can help you recognize, evaluate and mitigate (but not eliminate) potential risks.
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Set
Set is your mental, emotional and physical state going in. It’s your personal lens for a trip and shapes how you’ll experience everything.
Coming in with openness and clarity tends to support positive experiences. Anxiety, negative thoughts or trauma — known and unknown — can cause challenging, difficult or distressing psychedelic experiences.
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Setting
Setting is where and with whom you have your experience. The environment plays a powerful role in how things go. Crowded places, unfamiliar people, loud music or unpredictable weather can quickly become overwhelming.
Your best bet? A safe, comfortable space with an experienced friend, group or guide you trust. The right setting can help things go smoothly; the wrong one can lead to problems.
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Support
Support is your trusted, sober sitter. This could include a friend or family member, a trusted group, a therapist or other medical professional, a trip sitter or a guide. They’ll monitor your safety, provide comfort during challenging moments, and help you navigate the experience.
Because psychedelics make you especially vulnerable, choose your support person with great care. Whether it’s a friend or professional guide, make sure they know how to handle emergencies and have your wellbeing as their priority. It’s inadvisable to ever trip alone.
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Integration and Post-Trip Support
After a trip, you may need support to ‘integrate’ and process what you experienced, including difficult emotions or negative effects. These can linger for days, weeks or longer, so consider having a trusted friend check in for a few days after your trip.
More help is available through these resources:
Oregon Facilitation Guide
Acer Integration
CPEP Online Support Group
_Reflection point #5
Do you know the substance, the dose, the risks?
“Psychedelics” often get lumped into one category, but each one has different effects, profiles, and risks.
It’s important to understand these differences and how they might impact you.
Each substance has its own profile of effects, duration, contraindications and risks. For detailed information about individual substances, visit these pages:
Dose
- Even if you’ve used a substance before, psychedelic effects can be different each time.
- Higher doses will have stronger, more unpredictable effects.
- It’s not possible to predict the strength and purity of a dose from an unknown source.
- QTests.org makes a test kit that may help determine potency of psilocybin mushroom doses.
- Microdosing is popular, however, research is early stage, and risks and benefits remain uncertain.
Drug checking
- With drugs that come in pill or powder form – like LSD or MDMA – it can be difficult to tell actual contents.
- Drug checking allows a person to get more information about what’s present in a substance.
- Drug checking can range from highly accurate tests done with large commercial machines to simple liquid chemicals that change color if an unexpected, potentially harmful substance is detected.
- Paper strip tests are available for detecting fentanyl, a potentially deadly adulterant. However, liquid reagent kits are what most people use to check substances like MDMA.
- Drug-checking kits aren’t perfect but can help detect some harmful or unwanted additives. Test materials are available via Bunk Police.
Mixing psychedelics with other drugs
- Different psychedelics have different – and sometimes risky – interactions with other substances, like cannabis, nicotine, and alcohol, as well as certain prescription medications, like SSRIs and lithium.
- Combining psychedelics with any other substance can cause strong, chaotic and unpredictable effects and is not recommended.
- Tripsit includes information about interactions and drug combinations.
_Reflection point #6
Have you thought about all scenarios?
Decision making and planning include more than just logistics— it’s about building trust and safety with an experienced friend, trip sitter or guide.
Before you decide to trip, have open conversations about expectations and contingency plans, including:
Space and safety
- What environment will best support your reason for using psychedelics?
- Is the space quiet or stimulating? Is there music or silence?
- Are there any potential hazards like sharp objects or open windows?
- Do you have access to hydration, nutrition and other personal needs and comforts?
Communication and boundaries
- What signals should be used to indicate help is needed?
- What are the boundaries around physical touch?
- When and how should the sitter or guide intervene?
Emergency preparedness
- Have numbers for trusted friends or family, and the Fireside Project Hotline: 623-473-7433. Make sure your cell phone is charged and has signal.
- In an emergency, don’t wait — call 911. Signs that someone using psychedelics needs help include faintness, extreme heat combined with an inability to sweat, seizures, or loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or walking, high heart rate or seizure, and/or very agitated states.
- While fentanyl contamination in classic psychedelics is uncommon, having naloxone on hand is always a good idea. Next Distro offers mail-based naloxone in most states.
_Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or medical advice. Psychedelic substances can have significant effects on the mind and body. If you are considering using psychedelics, you should consult with a medical professional first.