Listed in no particular order, this selection of drugs and harm reduction organisations provides accessible, evidence-informed information on drugs, their effects, risks, and safer use. Their shared aim is to reduce harm, improve decision-making, and support health and wellbeing through education, real-time alerts, and community-informed guidance for the general population and people who use drugs across varied settings.
Talking Drugs
Talking Drugs is one of the few online platforms dedicated to providing unique news and analysis on drug policy, harm reduction and related issues around the world. It delivers geographically diverse coverage of the important issues, with a level of topic expertise often lacking in the mainstream media. Talking Drugs gives people the opportunity to become engaged in the debate and encourages those who wish to contribute to get in touch with about either volunteering or submitting a piece of work for publication. In particular, Talking Drugs is keen for people to tell their stories of how drugs and/ or policies have affected their lives or their communities.
International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD)
International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) is a global peer-based organisation that seeks to promote the health and defend the rights of people who use drugs. INPUD exposes and challenges stigma, discrimination, and the criminalisation of people who use drugs and its impact on the drug-using community’s health and rights. INPUD achieves this through processes of empowerment and advocacy at the international level, while supporting empowerment and advocacy at community, national and regional levels.
Drug Science
Provides an evidence base free from political or commercial influence, creating the foundation for sensible and effective drug laws. Equipping the public, media and policymakers with the knowledge and resources to enact positive change. Formed by a committee of scientists with a passionate belief that the pursuit of knowledge should remain free of all political and commercial interest.
Designed in collaboration with DrugWatch (UK and Ireland). Additional wheels include the Effects Wheel and Club Drugs Wheel, and wheels in French, Dutch, Italian and Polish.
Provides accessible, objective and comprehensive educational material to help reduce the short and long term harms of drugs. The website was inspired by the thousands of deaths that occur in the UK due to a lack of correct drug education. “Existing websites provide excellent information on drugs but have a falsely optimistic approach thinking that the people reading those sites will become discouraged after reading about the effects or potential health risks. This is not the reality. As Dr Carl Hart put it: “People will always use drugs. They always have used drugs. We must learn to live with this fact.” Drugs and Me aims to provide an information hub where for those who do use drugs but wish to do so in a safer way.” Drugs and Me are a group of scientists, educators and analysts with extensive experience in drug education. They want to do something to stop the increasing number of accidents and deaths that occur in the world due to lack of drug education.
PsychonautWiki
Community-driven online encyclopedia that aims to document the emerging field of psychonautics in a comprehensive, scientifically-grounded manner. Our primary motivations include documenting all aspects of psychonautic theory and practice (including meditation, lucid dreaming, psychoactive substance use, sensory deprivation, ritual, etc.) from an evidence-based, academic perspective; providing accessible education, encouraging safe practices, and reforming cultural taboos around the use of psychoactive substances, using both expert and crowd-based sources; and promoting a culture of secularism, free thought, and personal autonomy by safeguarding the information needed to make informed decisions over one’s body and mind.
Member-supported organisation providing access to reliable, non-judgmental information about psychoactive plants, chemicals, and related issues. It works with academic, medical, and experiential experts to develop and publish new resources, as well as to improve and increase access to already existing resources. Strives to ensure that these resources are maintained and preserved as a historical record for the future. Erowid imagines a world where people treat psychoactives with respect and awareness; where people work together to collect and share knowledge in ways that strengthen their understanding of themselves and provide insight into the complex choices faced by individuals and societies alike. It believes that truth, accuracy, and integrity in publishing information about psychoactives will lead to healthier and more balanced choices, behaviours, and policies around all psychoactive medications, entheogens, herbs, and recreational drugs. Erowid’s vision is to facilitate and create resources that are part of the evolution towards this goal.
Registered charity providing welfare and harm reduction services at music festivals and events throughout the UK and internationally, and has been been operating for over 10 years. Although most drug use at festivals is intended for enjoyment, some drug experiences can cause a person to be physically and mentally vulnerable; to experience feelings of fear, paranoia, delusion, discomfort and even psychosis; creating the potential for people to be a danger to themselves and others. PsyCare UK provides a peaceful, friendly sanctuary in the midst of the sometimes hectic festival environment. Always open to provide information and support to anyone that needs it. From crisis intervention for people who may be in profoundly disturbed mental states, to support for the lonely with a hot cuppa and a chat, PsyCare UK aims to consistently support the wellbeing of all festival goers.
PsyCare UK
