Straight-up facts. Practical advice. No judgement.

Alcohol is a legal depressant that slows your brain and body. In rave settings it’s one of the biggest risk-multipliers because it masks how impaired you are, dehydrates you, and makes mixing with other substances far more dangerous.

• What it is: a central nervous system depressant (slower reactions, coordination, breathing).
• How it’s used: drinks/shots. Strength varies massively (spirits, cocktails, high-ABV cans).
• Onset & duration: can hit within 10–30 minutes and keep climbing for hours — especially if you keep topping up.

• Alcohol poisoning: vomiting, confusion, seizures, pale/blue skin, slow/irregular breathing, unconsciousness.
• Heat + dehydration: increases overheating risk in clubs/festivals.
• Injuries: falls, accidents, risky decisions.

• Eat before and pace your drinks (one drink, then a break).
• Alternate with soft drink/water — sip, don’t chug.
• Set a limit early (and stick to it when the music kicks off).
• If someone is hard to wake, breathing oddly, or keeps vomiting: call 999.

Miss K summary: alcohol is the sneaky one. It’s everywhere, it feels normal — but it’s a heavyweight when it comes to accidents, overheating, and dangerous mixes.

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that can create a detached, dream-like state. It’s common in club and festival settings for its floaty effects — but it can also shut down coordination and awareness fast.

• What it is: a dissociative (mind/body separation). Also called K, ket, wonk, special K.
• Appearance: usually white powder or clear crystals.
• How it’s used: most often snorted; sometimes swallowed (“bombed”). Injecting is high-risk.

• Falls & injuries (people don’t feel pain / can’t coordinate).
• Choking risk if unconscious or vomiting.
• Bladder damage with frequent use.
• Mixing danger: ketamine + alcohol/benzos/opioids increases passing out and breathing risk.

• Start low, go slow — and sit down if you’re wobbling.
• Keep them on their side if they’re out of it (recovery position) and get medical help.
• Avoid mixing with depressants (alcohol/benzos/opioids).
• Regular use can wreck your bladder — take breaks and listen to symptoms.

Summary: ketamine can feel floaty, but it can also freeze movement and judgement. Dose carefully, don’t mix, and keep people safe from falls and choking.

MDMA (ecstasy, molly, mandy) is a stimulant/empathogen known for energy, euphoria, and emotional connection. Strength varies wildly, and mis-sold pills/powders are a real risk.

• Forms: tablets/pills, powder, crystals.
• Onset: usually 30–60 minutes (oral). Effects last 3–6 hours; after-effects can last longer.

• Overheating: especially in hot/crowded venues.
• Hydration mistakes: dehydration and over-drinking water can both be dangerous.
• Serotonin syndrome (medical emergency): agitation, confusion, heavy sweating, tremor, high temperature.
• Mis-sold contents: pills may contain little/no MDMA or dangerous substitutes.

• Test where possible. Don’t trust logos.
• Take breaks from dancing; cool down; sip water steadily.
• Avoid stacking stimulants and avoid mixing with alcohol.
• If someone has chest pain, collapses, seizures, or is unresponsive: call 999.

Summary: MDMA can feel like pure love — but heat, hydration mistakes, and unknown contents are where danger creeps in. Pace it, cool down, and don’t mix.

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can feel energising and confidence-boosting, but it’s short-acting, encourages redosing, and puts heavy strain on the heart — especially when mixed with alcohol or other stimulants.

• Heart strain: high blood pressure, arrhythmias, heart attack or stroke risk.
• Anxiety/paranoia and aggression.
• Dependence: strong urge to redose due to short high.

• Avoid mixing with alcohol and other stimulants.
• Chest pain, severe headache, collapse, seizures = 999.

Summary: cocaine can feel sharp and social, but it’s a heart-stressor with a quick drop-off that pushes people into binges. Mixing is where it gets especially risky.

Cannabis can relax you and heighten senses — but strength varies, it can trigger anxiety/paranoia, and it impairs coordination and judgement (especially with alcohol).

• Impairment: falls, accidents, unsafe decisions.
• Mental health: can worsen anxiety; higher risk for under-25s and those prone to psychosis.
• Edibles: slow onset and long duration — easy to overdo.

• Start small, especially with edibles. Wait before taking more.
• Avoid mixing with alcohol if you’re prone to anxiety.
• Don’t drive or do risky stuff — you’re more impaired than you think.

Summary: cannabis can be mellow or it can bite — dose, setting, and product strength decide which one you get.

2C-B is a synthetic psychedelic with a body buzz and visuals. People describe it as “between MDMA and LSD” — but dose and mindset matter, and pills can be mis-sold.

• Anxiety, panic, paranoia — especially in chaotic settings.
• Accidental overwhelm if a pill is stronger than expected.
• Mixing with MDMA/alcohol/ketamine increases risk of overheating or bad trips.

• Start low and wait — redosing too early is where people get overwhelmed.
• Trip with people you trust; choose calmer spaces to reset if it gets heavy.
• Avoid mixing with other substances.

Summary: 2C-B can be colourful and euphoric — but dose turns the dial fast. Respect it, don’t mix, and protect your headspace.

“Pink cocaine” / “tusi” is usually not cocaine and often not real 2C-B either. It’s commonly a bright pink powder made from an unpredictable cocktail of substances — which is why the risk level is high.

• Overdose risk: unknown strength + unknown ingredients.
• Dangerous interactions: stimulants and depressants together can strain heart and breathing.
• Harder to treat medically if nobody knows what’s in it.

• If you can’t verify what it is, the safest option is not taking it.
• Avoid mixing with anything else.
• If someone deteriorates quickly (overheating, chest pain, collapse, confusion): 999.

Summary: pink cocaine is a misleading name for an unknown mix. Treat it as high risk — because that’s what it is.

Speed is a street name for amphetamine — a stimulant that speeds up the brain and body. It can keep you going for long nights, but it’s harsh on your heart, your mood, and your sleep.

• What it is: a stimulant that increases alertness, energy, and confidence.
• Appearance: usually white/off-white powder or paste; often cut with caffeine or fillers.
• Duration: can last 4–8 hours (sometimes longer), with insomnia afterwards.

• Heart strain: fast pulse, high blood pressure, chest pain.
• Overheating/dehydration: more likely if you’re dancing for hours.
• Comedown: low mood, irritability, anxiety, and poor sleep.
• Binges: short “up” pushes people into redosing and going too long without rest.

• Take regular breaks, cool down, and prioritise sleep and food when you can.
• Avoid stacking stimulants and avoid mixing with alcohol.
• If someone becomes very agitated, confused, or overheated — involve welfare/medics early.

Summary: speed can feel like energy on tap — but it takes payment in sleep, mood, and heart strain. Keep it simple, pace it, and don’t stack stimulants.

LSD (acid, tabs, Lucy) is a powerful psychedelic that can change perception, emotions, and sense of time. It lasts a long time — which is why planning, mindset, and environment matter more than bravado.

• Forms: blotter tabs, liquid, gel tabs.
• Onset: 30–90 minutes. Duration: commonly 8–12 hours (sometimes longer).
• Set & setting: your mood + your environment can make or break the experience.

• Panic/bad trips: anxiety, paranoia, confusion — especially in chaotic settings.
• Accidents: impaired judgement and coordination.
• Mental health: can trigger or worsen underlying conditions in vulnerable people.

• Choose a safer environment and supportive people; have a calm exit plan if it gets too much.
• Avoid mixing, especially with alcohol and stimulants.
• If someone has chest pain, seizures, collapses, or becomes unresponsive: call 999.

Summary: LSD is long-haul. If you’re not in the right headspace or place, it can turn heavy. Set, setting, and support are everything.

DMT is one of the most intense psychedelics. Smoked/vaped, it can hit in seconds and feel like you’ve stepped into another dimension. It’s not a casual party add-on — it demands a safe setting and support.

• Forms: crystals/powder, vape liquids, or herbal blends (changa). Ayahuasca is oral DMT combined with MAOIs.
• Duration: smoked/vaped is short (often minutes) but extremely immersive; oral preparations last much longer.

• Overwhelm/panic: fear, confusion, distress — especially in noisy environments.
• Safety: people can be disoriented — falls/injury risk if not supervised.
• Medication interactions: MAOIs (including in ayahuasca/changa) can interact dangerously with many meds.

• Keep it away from loud, crowded spaces. Calm environment and trusted support matter.
• Avoid mixing with other substances and be cautious around medications.
• If someone is distressed, unsafe, or becomes unresponsive: get medics and call 999.

Summary: DMT is short but enormous. Treat it with respect, keep the environment safe, and don’t stack it with other substances.

Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) can bring visuals, emotional waves, and deep introspection. It can also bring nausea and overwhelm, especially if the setting is chaotic or you’re already anxious.

• Onset: often 20–60 minutes. Duration: commonly 4–6 hours.
• Variability: strength can vary by type and preparation — effects are not predictable.

• Bad trips: panic, paranoia, feeling trapped in thoughts.
• Nausea/vomiting can happen — keep people safe from choking if they’re very out of it.
• Mental health: higher risk for those with personal/family history of psychosis.

• Choose calmer spaces and supportive friends; crowded chaos is not your friend here.
• Avoid mixing, especially with alcohol and heavy cannabis.
• If someone is unsafe, unresponsive, or having seizures: call 999.

Summary: mushrooms can be beautiful — or intense. Protect the setting, protect the headspace, and don’t stack substances.

Benzos are prescription sedatives (e.g., diazepam/Valium, alprazolam/Xanax) used for anxiety and sleep. Recreational use is high-risk: blackouts, dangerous decisions, and deadly interactions — especially with alcohol or opioids.

• Breathing suppression when mixed with other depressants.
• Blackouts: people can look “awake” but later remember nothing.
• Fake pills: street benzos can be unpredictable and may contain other dangerous substances.
• Dependence: withdrawal can be severe and include seizures.

• Avoid mixing with alcohol or other depressants — this is where deaths happen.
• If someone has taken benzos and is vomiting or drifting in/out: keep them on their side and get help.
• Don’t share pills and don’t assume you know what’s in them.

Summary: benzos don’t look dramatic — they look sleepy. That’s the danger. Mixing is a red-alert zone.

Heroin is an opioid depressant that slows breathing and can cause deep sedation. With today’s unpredictable street supply, overdose risk is extremely high — especially when mixed with alcohol or benzos.

• Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
• Blue/grey lips or fingertips
• Cold, clammy skin
• Unconscious and can’t be woken

• Never use alone — get someone sober to keep watch and call for help if needed.
• Avoid mixing with any other depressants.
• If you’re in the UK and can access it, carry naloxone and know where it is.

Summary: opioids are a breathing risk first and foremost. If you’re unsure, treat it as an emergency and get help early — seconds matter.

Nitrous (NOS, balloons) is a short-acting dissociative gas. It can feel funny and floaty, but the risk comes from oxygen deprivation, sudden dizziness, and repeated use.

• Hypoxia: oxygen deprivation can cause blackouts and injury.
• Falls: sudden wobbles or collapse are common.
• Frost burns: inhaling directly from a canister can freeze tissue.
• B12 depletion: heavy/repeated use can contribute to nerve damage (tingling, numbness, weakness).

• Use sitting down and take long breaks between balloons.
• Stop if you feel tingling/numbness — that’s a red flag for heavy use.
• If someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally: call 999.

Summary: NOS is short, but the harm can be long. Oxygen deprivation and falls are the main dangers — keep it seated, spaced out, and unmixed.