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Harm Reduction Protocol
🕑 Added 2022-05-25 00:09:45 +0000 UTCAs you all may know, I am a major harm reduction advocate with my extensive history with addiction, and having lost many friends and family members to drug abuse and addiction. Based on my own experience and trying to debate with those friends and family members, I know that anyone who does not WANT to get sober will not do so no matter what you do or what you tell them. The second best option is to ensure they have the knowledge to keep themselves safe and prevent death or overdose. If reading over what I have to say makes you feel any kind of way, this is your push to quit your addictions. Don't be afraid to reach out to me if you feel you need help.
This advice applies to those who even just use drugs or alcohol recreationally.
This will be separated into the different drug classes... First and foremost, TESTING is crucial in the modern street scene nowadays. Fentanyl and its analogs are being found in not only heroin and oxycodone, but also Xanax and Klonopin, cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA/ecstasy. It's really not a game, do not play with your life. Drug and specifically fentanyl overdoses became the highest death rate for people my age especially, people in their 20s. This is quite literally an epidemic. Had they taken the brief time to test their substances, many overdoses may have been prevented altogether. You should be testing ANY substances you buy off the street even if you are best friends with the person you purchased them from, again do not play with your life.
Fentanyl test strips are not 100% guaranteed to detect fentanyl or its analogs, but it's the cheapest and best form of testing available to the common addict. They can be ordered from Dancesafe.org, instructions can be found on the individual strip pages: https://dancesafe.org/product-category/testing-strips/
If you can afford them, reagent testing kits are a bit more reliable and well worth the investment. They can be ordered from here: https://dancesafe.org/product-category/testing-kits-sets/
Even if you do not use drugs yourself, but you have friends that do, it would be a wise decision to keep them on hand just in case. All it takes is one mistake to never see your friends, family, or yourself ever again. This is a major factor that encouraged me to quit the drug scene, it's too serious at this point and I've lost too many people to opiate/opioid overdoses. Losing anyone is extremely painful, and this situation is no different.
Continuing on with opiates/opioids, there is not much harm reduction that can be done if someone has overdosed, this includes combinations with alcohol, benzodiazepines, gabapentenoids, barbiturates, and other downers/respiratory depressants, etc. It is wise to keep Narcan nasal spray on hand if you or anyone you know uses non-prescription opiates/opioids. You can find where in your state free Narcan is distributed here: https://www.goodrx.com/naloxone/narcan-naloxone-at-home-free
Depending on which chemical was consumed, multiple sprays may be required, but 911 should be called immediately. That is the best chance of survival for the overdosed individual. Around 40 states within the United States have what is known as the Good Samaritan Law, where you cannot be arrested in the case of an overdose if you still have substances or paraphernalia on your person or in your home. It will likely be confiscated if found, but that should be the least of your concerns.
With that said, it is wise to avoid combining opiates/opioids with ANY respiratory depressants if you decide to use them after testing the chemical(s) on hand. This significantly cuts down the chances of overdose unless laced with fentanyl. Just please be careful, I may not know you personally but I do care about each and every one of you.
As with stimulants, empathogens (MDMA, MDA, methylone, mephredrone, etc.), dissociatives, and psychedelics...
In case of severe stimulant/empathogen overdose, call 911. That will be your best chance of mitigating neurotoxicity and organ damage.
As I've mentioned many times before, any major stressor will deplete micronutrients across the board as calcium-glutamate excitation, cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, etc. are increased to supraphysiological levels. Drug use and experiences are no different. It is wise to keep all of these tools on hand if you decide to consume any of these substances.
Preload with topical magnesium chloride, magnesium glycinate, and l-theanine before and after any experience, you can consume this combination in quite high dosages with any of these substances as your Mg burn rate and calcium-glutamate excitation is significantly increased under the influence of all of the above. Take it slow, but if needed in case of arrhythmia/tachycardia, anxiety/panic attack, bruxism, muscle tension, spasms, psychosis, paranoia, etc., don't hesitate to SOAK the back of the head, entire neck, and full upper body with topical magnesium chloride and dissolve 1-2g/1-2g 1:1 ratio magnesium glycinate and l-theanine either in a glass of water to drink or dissolved under the tongue to absorb of each supplement into the brain and central nervous system. It is also wise to include magnesium chloride in your drinking water and to remain hydrated before, during, and after any experience. This was my first immediate action taken whenever I would feel a seizure coming on when I would push my luck in the past as well, I've replicated this harm reduction practice in a number of others on a number of other substances at parties I've attended since then. It is extremely effective when you need it to be. It is also extremely useful for "bad trips" to abort the experience or greatly reduce the intensity if need be.
I usually follow this up with a glass of blue lotus tea, which I try to have before and after the experience as well.
Potassium is also important regarding any cardiovascular or muscular symptoms. Keeping a simple source on hand such as coconut water, fruit juices, dairy, etc. during any drug use is a wise decision. In a pinch, LOW amounts of a supplement form such as chloride, bicarbonate, gluconate, citrate, cream of tartar, and/or lo/nu salt can be used but be sure not to overdo it as potassium supplementation can come with the risk of disrupting cardiovascular function if overdosed. Take it easy, food sources do not really have this risk in comparison as they are bound with other constituents and minerals/vitamins.
Taurine is another useful tool to keep on hand for the same reasons as magnesium, potassium, and l-theanine. Significant calming GABA activity, a potent antioxidant, supports mitochondrial function, regulates cardiovascular function, and keeps electrolytes regulated. Again, wise to start low, but if needed 1-6g can be used.
Of course, inositol is extremely useful as well, especially in the case of anxiety, depressive symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and ruminating thoughts that can be common with psychedelics and stimulants especially. Take it easy as always, but can be dissolved under the tongue for fast relief.
Herbal medicines I've discussed periodically can also be helpful to have on hand, especially Blue lotus, Magnolia bark, Oat straw, Astragalus, Bacopa, and Gotu kola. Each of these has calmative, sedative, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic properties and is safe with any mentioned substances, although caution should be exercised with Bacopa and serotonergic releasing empathogens. Start low if needed.
As for alcohol hangover and minor overdose/poisoning...
If overdose entails deadly/fatal consumption to the point of poisoning and/or combination with other respiratory depressants, call 911. Taking the loss is better than possibly permanent organ damage or liver failure. Alcohol is toxic to every organ in the human body, I'm not terribly a fan, but I know many are despite this with how common alcohol consumption/abuse is in Western social culture especially.
Keeping up with electrolytes, especially magnesium is crucial to both hangover and minor overdose as electrolyte depletion and dysregulation are extremely common in both pathologies. Of course potassium and sodium as well. A low dose B complex can be useful the day after as well, namely thiamine and B12 being the most significantly depleted, however, each of them takes a hit with heavy alcohol consumption to point of a hangover.
The most effective hangover stack in my experience has been n-acetylcysteine/NAC (BEFORE consumption and the next day, NOT AFTER), glycine, trimethylglycine/betaine, taurine, l-theanine and magnesium glycinate, niacin in any form to support NAD+ production after alcohol depletes it in its metabolism, dihydromyricetin (DHM), milk thistle, curcumin and boswellia (black seed oil is useful here), agmatine sulfate, and acetyl-l-carnitine or just plain carnitine. This stack aids in the elimination of toxic metabolic byproducts, manages the resulting glutamate rebound, and addresses the mitochondrial detriment or oxidative stress and inflammation to the brain, central nervous system, gut, and liver while supporting liver detox pathways (glutathione). Making sure to get lots of suns the day of and the day after, especially sunrise and sunset for red/infrared light exposure is a major key as well if you can drag yourself outside to sit out the day after.
Generic advice is crucial regardless...
Ensure you eat a nutrient-dense whole food meal before and the next day after any drug experience so your body has the building blocks to protect itself and mitigate harm. A saturated fat-rich meal is useful in mitigating liver toxicity from alcohol consumption, and likely most other substances as well. Being high, drunk, or tripping while fasting can get uncomfortable quickly and it is more likely you will experience side effects.
Ensure you see the sunrise and sunset if at all possible the day of as well as the day after. Throw on a pair of blue light blockers after sunset, I like the Ra Optics pairs for this reason. Stylish, not clunky, yet effective. Don't be embarrassed regardless, as reducing melatonin suppression from artificial blue light at night will greatly reduce side effects as well as the crash/hangover the day after.
Try to sleep at night, force it with the GABAergic supplements and herbal medicines above, or any acute pharmaceuticals you may have on hand in the case of psychedelics like LSD or any stimulants. You will feel like straight garbage if you do not give your brain the time to repair itself during sleep, and your mood will suffer as well.
Try to exercise the day of and the day after any drug/alcohol consumption, even if it's just a walk around your neighborhood. Get that blood flowing and those mitochondria pumping again.
That covers it, for now if there's anything else I think of, I will include more. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
I will be catching up on my message inbox here as I catch up on articles. Finally settled into the new house and have my daily routine back in the groove. FInishing up pressing this batch of Brain Tonic, and my shop will be restocked along with coaching session availability for all who have asked.
Thank you for your patience, love always to all of you,
Daniel aka Grimhood
