Warning
This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-11T15:14:44Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.

List of psychoactive substances to avoid

From PsychonautWiki Archive
Revision as of 04:02, 7 February 2025 by >David Hedlund (m)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

For psychoactive substances that require cautious use but should not necessarily be avoided (except substances that already are listed on this page), consult the Category:Panels page.

This information is also valuable for individuals who don't use drugs, as they can play a crucial role in educating others and preventing risky situations within their communities.

Monosubstance use

This resource covers not only drugs, but also dangerous psychoactive substances not originally intended for human consumption, such as "wasp dope" - the practice of ingesting common household insecticides to achieve a high.

Substance Reason for avoid
All illicitly produced pills, such as those sold as ecstasy For example, pure powder or crystal MDMA is generally considered safer to use. However, the previously good reputation of 'Mistubishi's' amongst ecstasy-users has been dealt a blow with the discovery of deadly batches (PMA has been found in White Mitsubishi,[1] PMMA has been found in Red Mitsubishi[2])
All research chemicals Research chemicals pose significant health risks and are not safe for human consumption, with unknown long-term effects and potential severe medical consequences. It is especially important to avoid newly popular RCs, as their safety profiles are poorly understood, and significant harm often becomes apparent only after years of use. For example, after a decade, 25I-NBOMe was linked to at least 42 deaths globally, highlighting the delayed recognition of their dangers.[3] However, substances with longer histories of use, such as 5-MeO-MiPT (40 years), may have better-understood risk profiles.
25I-NBOMe "PubMed query for mentions of NBOMe ingestion since Suzuki et al.’s publication of their 2015 review. Among English language publications published between October 2014 and June 8, 2021, were sixteen case reports and six case series detailing a total of 42 cases of NBOMe toxicity."[3]
5F-ADB 25 deaths in Europe between 2015 and 2017.[4]
Alcohol IARC group 1 Carcinogen, neurotoxin
Benadryl for the sake of benadryl challenge A dangerous social media trend involving diphenhydramine overdose.
Black tar heroin Black tar heroin injection is associated with Clostridium botulinum infection.
Bufotoxins (bufo retreats) Ethical concerns due to animal exploitation. Synthetic Bufotenin and 5-MeO-DMT are alternatives. Also, Despite some toads being a frequent target for milking (toad retreats), they still carry cardio toxic bufotoxins which have been linked to deaths. The effects of the bufotoxins in other toads are not well understood.
Desmethylprodine MPTP may be accidentally produced during the manufacture of MPPP. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a metabolite of MPTP, causes rapid onset of irreversible symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.[5][6]
Desomorphine Impure desmethylprodine, known as "krokodil," is associated severe tissue damage and toxicity.
Ephylone Between 2015 and 2018, ephylone was associated with approximately 151 fatal overdoses in the United States, according to reports from the DEA.[7]
Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues In the US, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs caused over 29,000 deaths in 2017, a large increase over the previous four years.[8][9]
Gray death Dangerous opioid mixture with unpredictable potency. Example: A mixture of drugs misleadingly called 2C-B had been found to contain fentanyl in Argentina.[10]
Toxic inhalants Hydrocarbons (e.g. butane gas, gasoline), and ketones (e.g. acetone). Inhalants not designed for medical use (e.g. medical gasoline) are considered toxic inhalants, and a single session of using them can result in sudden death even a single session of inhalant use,[11][12] and when used frequently they can cause and chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE).
Kambo (retreats) Ethical concerns due to animal exploitation. Also, potentially dangerous traditional medicine from frog secretions. Kambo has resulted in a few deaths.
Lean (Codeine/promethazine) Mixture of codeine cough syrup and soda, risk of addiction. Lean has resulted in many deaths, a few notable ones.
Methanol contaminated alcohol Toxic alcohol substitute causing blindness and death. Responsible for thousands of methanol poisoning incidents.
MDMB-FUBINACA Synthetic cannabinoid with severe adverse effects. 40 deaths had occurred as a consequence of intoxication by MDMB-FUBINACA as of March 2015.[13][14]
MDPV Stimulant with high addiction potential and dangerous side effects. A total of 107 non-fatal intoxications and 99 analytically confirmed deaths related to MDPV between September 2009 and August 2013 were reported by nine European countries.[15]
Oxycodone Linked to the opioid epidemic
Speedball Dangerous combination of stimulants and depressants. Linked to many notable deaths.
Surrogate alcohol 78 people died from drinking surrogate alcohol in the Russian city of Irkutsk.[16]
Synthetic cannabinoids Multiple synthetic cannabinoids pose serious health risks. See MDMB-CHMICA and 5F-ADB in this article for more information.
Tobacco IARC Group 1 carcinogen. Also, using tobacco as a joint filler increases the risk of a negative experience due to nicotine's stimulant effects.
Wasp dope Ingestion of common household insecticides. Possible symptoms of ingesting bug poison include, but are not limited to: erratic behavior, nausea, headache, sore throat, extreme inflammation, redness of the hands and feet, auditory hallucinations, psychosis, convulsions, coma, necrosis, and death.[17][18][19][20]
Wild growing peyote (retreats) Ethical concerns. Peyote populations are rapidly declining in nature due to over-harvesting by non-indigenous peoples. As a result, it is currently a threatened species.[21][22] Those who wish to consume peyote are encouraged to grow their own or use alternative mescaline-containing cactus species such as San Pedro or Peruvian Torch.

Polysubstance use

Substance Reason for avoid
Depressants combined with other depressants Opioid-related deaths often involve alcohol, benzos, and opioids.
MAOIs in combination with the majority of substances Combining even a low-dose MAOI with other substances, especially when the interaction is not well-documented, can lead to serious, long-lasting health consequences. While MAOIs are generally considered safe for use with DMT, their combination with other substances is often unnecessary and potentially dangerous. In most cases, the risks associated with such combinations outweigh any potential benefits.

Route of administration

Contraindicated substances for injection

Substance Reason for avoid
Codeine Injectable codeine is available for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection only; intravenous injection is contraindicated as this can result in non-immune mast-cell degranulation and resulting anaphylactoid reaction.
Ethchlorvynol Ethchlorvynol is not compatible with intravenous injection and serious injury (including the loss of limbs due to vascular injury) or death can occur when it is used in this manner.[24]
Hydroxyzine (brand name Atarax, and Vistaril) "The drug is not recommended for SC, IA, or SC administration because of adverse reactions that have occurred after its administration via these routes."[25][26]
Promethazine Is contraindicated for subcutaneous injection by the FDA because of the potencial for tissue damage(including gangrene), this has lead to cases of severe injury and even amputation.[27]
Eye drops Eye drops that contain medicines (e.g. the deliriant tropicamide only used for ocular administration) can be deadly when injected. Use eye drops without medicine (they are frequently shared by needle exchange programs) as solution to dissolve substances.

Smoking/vaping

Substance Reason for avoid
Crack-cocaine It may cause the development of 'crack lung,' a term for various pulmonary diseases caused by the drug

Retreats

Notes about entheogen retreats: While many seek transformative experiences through organized ceremonies, many individuals fail to recognize the option of ordering psychoactive substances at home. Ayahuasca ingredients, 5-MeO-DMT, and yopo seeds (bufotenin) are often legally available for personal use. However, many individuals, including those who travel globally for retreats, remain unaware of this option, having internalized the belief that a "certified shaman" is essential for the experience. Home use can be safe if one is mentally prepared, starts with very low doses, gradually increases the dosage, and has a trusted sitter.

Substance Reason for avoid
Ayahuasca tourism Indigenous communities are being displaced from their ancestral lands as opportunistic outsiders establish lucrative ayahuasca retreats, exploiting traditional practices for profit.[28] Assuming ICEER's estimate of 62,000 ayahuasca tourists is accurate, the industry would generate approximately $62 million in annual revenue.[29] Ironically, most people can easily order ayahuasca ingredients for home use, yet many—even those who travel globally for ceremonies—don't consider this option, having been conditioned to believe that a "certified shaman" is essential for the experience.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shulgin Index, p811
  2. ↑ http://www.ecstasy.org/testing/pma.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://scholarcommons.towerhealth.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=t-med
  4. ↑ Template:Cite report
  5. ↑ Davis, Glenn C.; Williams, Adrian C.; Markey, Sanford P.; Ebert, Michael H.; Caine, Eric D.; Reichert, Cheryl M.; Kopin, Irwin J. (December 1979). "Chronic parkinsonism secondary to intravenous injection of meperidine analogues". Psychiatry Research. 1 (3): 249–254. doi:10.1016/0165-1781(79)90006-4. PMID 298352.  Unknown parameter |s2cid= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ Wallis, Claudia (2001-06-24). "Surprising Clue to Parkinson's". Time. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-13.  Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/08/31/dea-acts-against-dangerous-deadly-designer-synthetic-drug-linked-151
  8. ↑ Katz J (2 September 2017). "The first count of Fentanyl deaths in 2016 – up 540% in three years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.  Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ Template:Cite report
  10. ↑ "Fentanyl and 2CB, Worrying New Cocktail on Colombia's Party Circuit". InSight Crime. 20 July 2021. 
  11. ↑ "Inhalants: MedlinePlus". Retrieved 19 July 2017. 
  12. ↑ https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/5/1009/70263/Inhalant-Abuse
  13. ↑ "Выступление председателя ГАК, директора ФСКН России В.П. Иванова на заседании ГАК 6 октября 2014 г" (in русский). Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.  Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ I. Bulygina (21 October 2014). "Clinical presentations of intoxication by new psychoactive compound MDMB(N)-Bz-F. Thesis of The II Scientific and Practical Seminar 'Methodical, Organizational and Law Problems of Chemical and Toxicological Laboratories of Narcological Services', Moscow" (in русский). Retrieved 13 July 2015. 
  15. ↑ "EMCDDA–Europol Joint Report on a new psychoactive substance: MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone)" (PDF). European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). January 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2016.  Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ "Vladimir Putin orders clampdown on 'surrogate' alcohol as deaths rise". The Guardian. 2016-12-21. Archived from the original on 2022-10-10.  Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  17. ↑ "Wasp spray used as alternative meth, contributed to three overdoses". WISH-TV. 
  18. ↑ "People Are Overdosing on Wasp Spray in West Virginia". Livescience. 
  19. ↑ Bradberry, SM (2005). "Poisoning due to pyrethroids". Toxicological Reviews. 2 (24): 93–106. doi:10.2165/00139709-200524020-00003. PMID 16180929.  Unknown parameter |s2cid= ignored (help)
  20. ↑ American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. p. 113. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596. ISBN 978-0-89042-554-1. 
  21. ↑ Martin Terry (Sul Rose State Univ., A. (19 November 2009). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Lophophora williamsii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 
  22. ↑ José Guadalupe Martínez, Global Cactus Assessment / Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, M., Emiliano Sánchez, Jardín Botánico Regional de Cadereyta, Q., Martin Terry, Sul Rose State Univ., A., Group, C. G.-H., IUCN S. C. & S. P. S. (18 November 2009). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Lophophora diffusa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 
  23. ↑ "Drug Combinations". combo.tripsit.me. 
  24. ↑ Glauser FL, Smith WR, Caldwell A, Hoshiko M, Dolan GS, Baer H, Olsher N (January 1976). "Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl)-induced pulmonary edema". Annals of Internal Medicine. 84 (1): 46–8. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-84-1-46. PMID 942681. 
  25. ↑ "Hydroxyzine - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. 
  26. ↑ https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00557
  27. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20171115034939/https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm182169.htm
  28. ↑ https://www.sapiens.org/culture/ayahuasca-tourism-amazon/
  29. ↑ https://www.iceers.org/ayahuasca-tourism-who-how-where/


Retrieved from "http://psy.st/w/index.php?title=List_of_psychoactive_substances_to_avoid&oldid=142180"