Know Before You Go

Alcohol is a legal depressant. It slows reactions and messes with judgement. In clubs and festivals it’s a big risk multiplier because it dehydrates you and makes mixing far more dangerous.

• What it is: a depressant (slower reactions, coordination, breathing).
• How it’s used: drinks/shots. Strength varies a lot (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 hot venues.
• Injuries: falls, accidents, risky decisions.

• Eat first and pace your drinks.
• Alternate with soft drink or water. Sip, don’t chug.
• Set a limit early and stick to it.
• If someone is hard to wake, breathing oddly, or keeps vomiting: call 999.

Summary: alcohol feels normal because it’s everywhere. But it’s heavy when it comes to accidents, overheating, and dangerous mixes.

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic. It can feel floaty and detached, but it can also knock coordination and awareness out fast.

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

• Falls & injuries (people can’t coordinate and don’t feel pain properly).
• 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. Sit down if you’re wobbling.
• If someone is out of it, keep them on their side and get medical help.
• Avoid mixing with depressants (alcohol/benzos/opioids).
• Frequent use can wreck your bladder. Take breaks and listen to symptoms.

Summary: ketamine can feel calm, but it can also switch off movement and awareness. Dose carefully, don’t mix, and protect people from falls and choking.

MDMA (ecstasy, molly, mandy) can bring energy and empathy. Strength varies a lot, and mis-sold pills/powders are a real risk.

• Forms: pills, powder, crystals.
• Onset: usually 30–60 minutes (oral). Effects often last 3–6 hours.

• Overheating: especially in hot/crowded venues.
• Hydration mistakes: dehydration and over-drinking water can both be dangerous.
• Serotonin syndrome: 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. Avoid mixing with alcohol.
• Chest pain, collapse, seizures, or unresponsive: call 999.

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

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant. It’s short-acting, pushes redosing, and puts strain on the heart. Mixing with alcohol or other stimulants makes it riskier.

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

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

Summary: cocaine can feel social and sharp, but it’s a heart-stressor. Mixing is where it gets especially risky.

Cannabis can relax you, or it can spike anxiety. Strength varies. It also impairs coordination and judgement, especially with alcohol.

• Impairment: falls, accidents, unsafe decisions.
• Mental health: can worsen anxiety. Higher risk for under-25s and people 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. Don’t do risky stuff. You’re more impaired than you think.

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

2C-B is a synthetic psychedelic with a body buzz and visuals. Dose matters, 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 and confusion.

• Start low and wait. Redosing too early is where people get overwhelmed.
• Trip with people you trust. Find calmer space if it gets heavy.
• Avoid mixing with other substances.

Summary: 2C-B can be colourful. Dose turns the dial fast. Respect it and keep the setting safe.

“Pink cocaine” is usually not cocaine and often not real 2C-B. It’s commonly a bright pink powder made from an unknown mix. That’s why the risk 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: call 999.

Summary: tusi is an unknown mix with a misleading name. Treat it as high risk.

Speed is amphetamine. It can keep you going for long nights, but it’s rough on your heart, your mood, and your sleep.

• What it is: a stimulant (alertness, energy, confidence).
• Appearance: white/off-white powder or paste. Often cut with caffeine or fillers.
• Duration: 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, poor sleep.
• Binges: redosing and going too long without rest.

• Take regular breaks. Cool down. Eat when you can.
• Avoid stacking stimulants. Avoid mixing with alcohol.
• If someone is very agitated, confused, or overheated, involve welfare/medics early.

Summary: speed gives energy now, but takes payment later. Keep it paced and don’t stack stimulants.

LSD is a strong psychedelic. It lasts a long time. Planning, mindset, and environment matter more than bravado.

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

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

• Choose safer spaces and supportive people. Have a calm exit plan.
• Avoid mixing, especially with alcohol and stimulants.
• Chest pain, seizures, collapse, unresponsive: call 999.

Summary: LSD is long-haul. Set and setting are everything.

DMT can hit in seconds and feel massive. It’s not a casual party add-on. It needs a safe setting and someone sober-ish around.

• Forms: crystals/powder, vape liquids, or herbal blends (changa).
• Duration: smoked/vaped is short but intense. Ayahuasca/oral versions last much longer.

• Overwhelm/panic in noisy environments.
• Safety: disorientation can mean falls or injury if unsupervised.
• Medication interactions: MAOIs can interact dangerously with many meds.

• Keep it away from crowds. Calm environment matters.
• Avoid mixing. Be cautious with meds.
• If someone is distressed, unsafe, or becomes unresponsive: get medics and call 999.

Summary: DMT is short but huge. Respect it. Keep it safe. Don’t stack it.

Mushrooms can bring visuals and emotional waves. They can also bring nausea and overwhelm, especially in chaotic settings.

• Onset: 20–60 minutes. Duration: often 4–6 hours.
• Variability: strength can vary a lot by type and prep.

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

• Choose calmer spaces and supportive friends.
• 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 and don’t stack substances.

Benzos are prescription sedatives used for anxiety and sleep. Recreational use is high-risk. Blackouts are common, and mixing can be deadly, 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.
• Dependence: withdrawal can be severe and include seizures.

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

Summary: benzos don’t look dramatic. They look sleepy. That’s the danger. Mixing is red-alert territory.

Opioids slow breathing. Overdose risk is high, and mixing with alcohol or benzos makes it worse.

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

• Never use alone. If something goes wrong, you need someone there.
• Avoid mixing with any other depressants.
• If you can access naloxone in the UK, carry it and know how to use it.

Summary: opioids are a breathing emergency risk. If you’re unsure, treat it as urgent and get help early.

NOS is short-acting and can feel floaty. The main risk is oxygen deprivation, sudden dizziness, and falls. Heavy use can also affect B12 and nerves.

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

• Use sitting down and take long breaks between balloons.
• Stop if you get 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.