How to Use Psychoactive Drugs Responsibly

Psychoactive drugs have been around long before man ran naked through the landscape of early day Mesopotamia. There are even those who believe the reason why humans made the evolutionary jump from homoerectus to homosapien is due to psilocybin-based plants being a part of their diet. While such a theory can't be confirmed to be entirely true, it is possible to explain how to use psychoactives in a safe and responsible manner. And since people will never stop using psychoactives it is important for the knowledge of proper and safe use to be available.

When it comes to psychoactive drugs (commonly referred to as psychedelics) it is important to understand that not everyone is cut out for ingesting the vision inducing substances. If a person has a family history of mental illness, mainly ones that are the result of serotonin imbalances, it is best advised to use extreme caution when using psychoactives or to refrain from use entirely. What psychoactives have been proven to do, when used excessively, is bring out genetically passed down mental disorders such as: schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and other forms of depression. While moderate to minimal use is unlikely to cause the manifestation of such disorders, it is best to know not only yourself, but the history of your immediate family.

Another often unspoken fact about psychoactives is that most serotonin-like psychedelics (e.g., LSD-25, Psilocybin, DMT, THC) are actually the safest drugs in existence if they are used in moderation. Nevertheless, moderation is a term that varies on a person-to-person basis. This again boils down to knowing one's self and using good judgment when it comes to experimenting with psychoactive drugs. THC is a weak psychoactive drug and moderate use is in the ballpark of 2-3 times a week. However, LSD-25 and Psilocybin are higher up on the psychoactive totem pole, requiring a much longer period of time between use in order to qualify as moderate and responsible use. It is best advised to have a buffer of at least 3-6 months between usages as a means to prevent the chance of any permanent damage. However, if someone decides to eat a sheet of acid in one sitting it is no different than eating 2 sheets over the course of a month.

In terms of actual use there is a saying that was coined during the Consciousness Movement of the 1960s and 70s: set and setting. Set refers to the current mind state a person is in prior to ingesting psychoactives. It is best advised to avoid using psychoactives if stressed or in a generally bad mood. Being in a bad place mentally before taking psychoactive drugs could lead to a bad trip, which is never a good time. As far as setting is concerned it is always recommended to be in a comfortable environment with people that are close friends or experienced in psychedelic use. For first timers it is good to have a spotter, someone who is sober, to make sure nothing happens that could have long lasting negative effects.

Dosage wise the best approach is start with a low amount and wait for the drug to kick in. Most psychedelics take about an hour to begin affecting the user, with smoked DMT and THC as exceptions. With psilocybin mushrooms an 8^th (3.5 grams) is a relatively extreme dose, and for a first time user a gram is a solid start. If by an hour the effects are not as desired eat another gram and kick back. As far as LSD is concerned it is hard to determine dosage since the amount of LSD on one tab is nearly impossible to know. Not to mention the potency of the LSD is also another unknown. Generally, the best approach, for a first time user is to avoid eating a large dose all at once. Experienced users understand their body's reaction to the drug and know the required dose.

Psychoactive drugs can produce fun and introspective experiences if they are used properly. However, if you are fearful or hesitant about using it would be a wise move to avoid taking them all together. People who use psychoactives responsibly are not looking for merely a high or visuals, but are trying to tap into a part of their brain that is otherwise silent. A common misconception is that psychoactives will cause a person to become wiser or more intelligent. Instead psychoactives allow people to see life and the world around them from a completely different perspective. While psychoactive drugs are not the only way to experience an abstract way of viewing the world, they do produce a relatively unique happening that is more personal to the user. Remember the key to a joyful psychoactive journey is to embark responsibly.