This document provides an overview of psychedelic substances and MDMA. It defines key terms like psychedelics and hallucinogens. It discusses popular psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin, DMT and MDMA. It notes that psychedelics have little to no addiction potential and that legal prescription drugs cause more deaths than all illicit drugs combined. The document also discusses common misconceptions around drug use and provides harm reduction resources.

1. A VERY Brief Overview of The World
of Psychedelic Substances (and
MDMA)
My name was here.

2. Definitions
• Drug: Any substance that has a physiological
effect on the body
• Psychedelics- psychoactive drugs that work by
altering cognition and perception
– Part of a wider class of psychoactive drugs called
hallucinogens
• Includes structurally unrelated drugs such as
dissociatives (Ketamine, PCP, DXM, MXE)

3. How many drugs do you use daily?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caffeine?
Alcohol?
Tobacco?
Prescription medications?
Sugar?
OTC medications?
• Nearly 100% of Americans use drugs
– So why does being a “drug user” carry so much stigma in our
society?
(Ahem … outdated, nonsense drug laws)

4. Harm Caused by Various Drugs
• Legal prescription pills
killed more Americas
than all illicit drugs
combined in both
2012 and 2013
• Marijuana, LSD, and
Psilocybin have a total
death count of ZERO.
In the history of time.

5. CBD
Molecule
Marijuana
THC
Molecule
• Common name of the cured flowers of the Cannabis plant
• The entire plant contains the psychoactive
molecules, however it is concentrated in the flowers
– Contains at least 483 known compounds
– Consists mainly of tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids
• CBD, CBN, THCV, etc.
• THC is nonpolar and does not disassociate in water
– The reason lipids must be used for making edible
cannabis products
• The only known naturally occurring substance
that is a psychedelic, stimulant, and depressant
• Once known as “a gateway drug”, studies have
shown that alcohol is the actual gateway drug

6. Endocannabinoid System
• Made up of neuromodulatory lipids
and their receptors
– Involved in a variety of
physiological processes
• Appetite, painsensation, mood, memory
• Naturally produced cannabinoids
used up when long term stress occurs
– Mediates the psychoactive effects
of cannabis
• In layman’s terms, if you didn’t
already have cannabinoids and their
receptors as part of your
anatomy, marijuana would not have
any effects
• Several compounds in cannabis
have been shown to have
significant medical benefits
– To avoid possible hazards from
smoking, users can also vaporize or
consume marijuana orally

7. The Molecules and their Beneficial
Effects

8. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
• Chemical Formula: C20H25N3O
• Low melting point: 176°F (80°C)
• LSD is extremely sensitive to UV
light, heat, moisture,
• No known toxic dose
and oxygen
– No overdoses, not even at 50,000 times the normal dose
• Threshold effects felt with at little as 20 micrograms , common dose being
between 50-150 micrograms.
• Commonly sold on paper blotters, can also be dropped onto candies and
into drinks
• Real LSD has absolutely no taste, though some repeat users report sensing
a faint chemical aura
– Depends on individual brain chemistry, possible byproducts, blotter ink
– Very difficult subject to study on the wide scale because people vary
greatly, neurologically

9. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
• LSD is a semi synthetic compound first synthesized by
Albert Hofmann in 1938
– Derived from a grain fungus typically found on rye
• Psychedelic effects weren’t discovered until April 16, 1943
– Three days later, Hofmann purposely ingested LSD: the first acid trip
• Experiences vary greatly by user
– “Trips” tend to last 7-12 hours
– Common effects include, but are not limited to:
• Mental/physical stimulation, increased creative thinking, mood lift, sensory
enhancement (taste, smell, etc), closed- and open-eye visuals (trails, color
shifts, brightening), life-changing spiritual experiences, therapeutic psychological
reflection, feeling of connectedness to the universe, blurring of boundaries between self
and other, yawning, looping thoughts, pupil dilation, change in perception of time, etc…
• Numerous scientists, engineers, artists, musicians, etc. have developed
their best work on or influenced by LSD
– Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA while on LSD
• New clinical LSD experiments in humans started in 2009
for the first time in 35 years… (FINALLY)

10. And the survey says…
• Psychedelic users are less
prone to developing mental
illnesses, including
psychosis, anxiety and mood
disorders, etc.
• Psychedelic drugs are shown
to have almost zero addiction
rates and are physiologically
not addictive.
• LSD and Psilocybin are
extremely efficient at treating
alcoholism and anxiety
disorders
• The most dangerous part
about these drugs is their
legal status
• “I think that in
human evolution it
has never been as
necessary to have
this substance LSD
... It is just a tool to
turn us into what
we are supposed to
be.” – Albert
Hofmann

11. I can’t seem to find Molly…
• Tons of misinformation and propaganda, especially in
media
• “Molly” is not a drug, but a name given to a range of
substances including but not limited to;
MDA, MDMA, methylone, mephedrone (often a
combination)
– Also referred to as ecstasy
– Commonly includes cutting agents such as baking
soda, ketamine, methamphetamine, etc.
• Media likes to attack molly and report on deaths from
overdoses
– Which substance? Say molly, meaning which molecule?
• Where’s the science???
– Other factors?
• Dehydration, alcohol/other substances used, heat, lack of rest

12. MDMA
•
•
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or 3,4 Methylene-dioxy-Nmethylamphetamine
Not a psychedelic, instead an entactogenic (empathogenic) of the phenethylamine
and amphetamine classes
– Common median dose ranges between 75-100 milligrams
– Common effects include: extreme mood lift, euphoria, willingness to communicate, increase
in energy, decreased fear and anxiety, feelings of comfort, belonging, and closeness to
others, feelings of empathy and forgiveness, appreciation of music, increased awareness of
senses, life-changing spiritual experiences, intense urge to hug and kiss people, decreased
pain perception, yawning, dilated pupils, etc…
•
Originally discovered in 1913, MDMA rediscovered by Alexander Shulgin in the late
70’s who suggested it’s use in psychology
– MDMA has shown significant promise in not only treating but also curing many anxiety
disorders including OCD, PTSD, SAD, etc.
•
Biochemical effects include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine release
–
•
How MDMA causes psychoactive effects is not yet understood
Possibly neurotoxic at frequent, high doses, but still highly debated
– To prevent adverse effects, users should be well rested, in good health, well hydrated, and
dose no more frequently than once every 4 weeks

13. Common “Mollies”
MDA
MDMA
MDPV
Methylone

14. Other Chemicals
• Ketamine- a dissociative, has been shown to be an instant and lasting
antidepressant for people with severe major depressive disorder
• Psilocybin- Naturally occurring psychedelic found in many types of
mushrooms
– Lethal only if you consume your own body weight (No overdose deaths, ever)
– Studies suggest cavemen were using psilocybin and other psychedelic plants
for thousands of years
• “Best explained by the common experience of these patterns as geometric hallucinations
during altered states of consciousness induced by shamanic ritual practices”
• Research Chemicals/ RCs
– Chemists constantly coming out with new versions
• Adding fluorine groups to existing illegal substances is common and deadly
– ONE OF MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH IN IGNORANT/ NEW DRUG USERS
– Usually completely unresearched, potentially toxic at miniscule doses
– Sold to unsuspecting buyers as “Acid”
• Commonly sold are variations of 25i-NBOMe (4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2methoxybenzyl)phenethylamine)
– Unlike LSD, NBOMe is bitter and causes the mouth to go numb

15. Common Misconceptions
•
Myth: All drug users are addicts
– Much research supports quite the opposite, most drug users are recreational/ social users
– Not all alcohol drinkers are alcoholics, don’t assume
•
Myth: All addicts are nonfunctioning
– Many people live with an addiction and function rather well (caffeine addiction counts)
•
Myth: You can identify a substance by it’s : color, taste, smell, state (powder/
crystal)
– ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
•
Myth: The drug laws make complete sense and are there to keep us safe
– No science in drug laws (Marijuana, LSD are schedule I, meaning they are as toxic and
addictive as heroin and PCP…???)
– Not only stealing the lives of innocent drug users by both prison and accidental death due to
misinformation, but also delaying significant research, keeping drug cartels in business, and
making overdoses more common
– Most lethal drugs? Prescription pills and cigarettes (both very legal and advertised!)
•
•
•
Cigarettes- at least 443,000 deaths, Prescription pills- at least 100,000 deaths (US only)
Illicit drug overdoses account for about 15,000 deaths per year
http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock

16. Better Informed than Dead
• Erowid
• Reddit/r/drugs
• Vice- Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia
• Dancesafe.net
– Test kits contain several reagents which all change different colors
depending on the chemical(s) present
•
•
•
•
Marquis (formaldehyde and concentrated sulfuric acid)
Mecke (selenious acid and concentrated sulfuric acid)
Mandelin (ammonium metavanadate and concentrated sulfuric acid)
Simon (sodium nitroprusside, sodium carbonate and acetaldehyde)
– Until the archaic drug laws are changed, test kits are the only 100%
way to know what you are taking
If in doubt, TEST IT. If no test kit is available, don’t risk
it. Don’t be a statistic, it is possible to be a
responsible drug user!

17. her Dead
Hero

18. Proof
• http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57599578/
• http://www.businessinsider.com/painkillers-kill-moreamericans-than-heroin-and-cocaine-2012-9
• http://www.healthline.com/health-news/mentalpsychedelics-not-linked-to-mental-health-problems082213
• http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/261454.p
hp
• http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/legal-drugs-vsillegal-drugs-are-we-fighting-the-right-war/
• http://www.livescience.com/38215-cavemen-paintedhigh.html