Drug checking is a valuable public health tool and Johns Hopkins University agrees

A new study by Johns Hopkins University published online in the Journal of Psychopharmacology concludes that individuals were significantly less likely to report intent to consume a substance marketed as MDMA if the substance did not test as such. Results also suggest that Molly is not a less-adulterated substance, as discussed in this week's #MythBusterMonday blog post. The study used data collected by DanceSafe from on-site drug checking conducted at events between July 2010 and July 2015. The data was collected by DanceSafe volunteers Dr. Sarah Saleemi, researcher and physician at University of Illinois Chicago hospital, Dr. Steven Pennybaker, researcher and...

July 12, 2017Read more...

July 11th #TestItTuesday Alert: Unknown Homer Simpson Tablet Tests as 2C-B

#TestItTuesday Alert! DOH! A light green Homer Simpson pill that could easily be mistaken as a MDMA tablet tested as a 2C-B press. It is unknown what the pill was marketed and sold as, and the source of the tablet is also unknown. The pill was submitted in Bern, Switzerland last month. Always keep your eyes peeled for similar substances to enter the market in your area, as the black market is global and interconnected. Although 2C-B is a sought-after substance, it has different effects and is active at much lower doses than MDMA. If you are anticipating an MDMA experience but...

July 11, 2017Read more...

“Molly” is Not Purer Than “Ecstasy” and There is Data to Prove It

The terms “molly” and “ecstasy” are oftentimes used to describe different forms of the same drug: MDMA. Molly is a street term used to identify powder or crystal MDMA, while ecstasy is used to identify pressed MDMA that comes in pills of various shapes, sizes, and colors. While this vernacular is used to differentiate the form of the drug, molly and ecstasy are (supposed to be) the same substance. Some people think that getting molly, or powdered MDMA, means it is purer than ecstasy, or pressed MDMA, as it is commonly believed that an ecstasy pill contains more adulterants than...

July 10, 2017Read more...

Let’s Celebrate Freedom When Drugs Are Decriminalized (at the Least)

Today, we celebrate America’s 241st birthday. As many would say, we are celebrating freedom. Freedom and liberty and democracy--all the things that make America great (again?). But, while white, educated, middle-to-upper class adults enjoy fireworks, BBQ, and drinking themselves into a dazed but legal stupor, we need to pause and take a moment to reflect on the things that make America not-so-great. Like, say, the criminalization of drug use, which through the perpetuation of the Drug War, has ravished communities and proliferated the opioid epidemic. America incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, and drug laws are...

July 4, 2017Read more...

July 4th #TestItTuesday Alert: 3-MeO-PCP Sold as Ketamine

#TestItTuesday Alert! A white powder sold as ketamine has tested as 3-MeO-PCP, another dissociative that is active at much lower doses. 3-MeO-PCP is reported as more physically stimulating than ketamine and other psychedelic dissociatives. Where ketamine causes people to be physically sedated and incapacitated at strong doses, 3-MeO-PCP's powerful effects on the mind can be accompanied by standing up, walking around, talking, and potentially doing dangerous activities.  Because it is less physically sedating than ketamine, strong doses of it can cause ambulatory delirious states during which users may not realize they are unable to differentiate reality from fantasy. At least one...

July 4, 2017Read more...

It’s science: Methamphetamine and Adderall produce identical effects

On the spectrum of stigma associated with virtually all illicit drug use, methamphetamine is definitely on the high end, along with heroin and crack cocaine. We all remember seeing the billboards and television ads plastered all over with fear-inciting images of pale and sickly people with missing teeth and sores all over their bodies. The advertisements warned: “Meth. Not Even Once.” “These types of media campaigns neither prevent nor decrease the use of the drug; nor do they provide any real facts about the effects of meth,” states Dr. Carl Hart. “They succeed only in perpetuating false assumptions.” In fact, Dr. Carl...

July 3, 2017Read more...

June 27 #TestItTuesday Alert: Cocaine and 2C-B Capsules Sold as MDMA in Las Vegas

#TestItTuesday Alert! Active components of a white powder sold in capsules as MDMA in Las Vegas, NV have been identified as 7 parts cocaine and 1 part 2C-B. No MDMA was detected. The test sample was submitted from Sandy, Utah, over 400 miles northeast of Las Vegas. It is important to know that the black market is vast and far-reaching, especially when sourcing from a tourist destination such as Las Vegas. It is possible that the capsules have reached your area, so always test before you ingest and research your substances on erowid.org before consuming.  Many drugs come in the form of...

June 27, 2017Read more...

Drugs are not to blame for damage to your community, thank prohibition

If you think that drugs are to blame for the problems your community faces, you may be confusing problems caused by the War on Drugs with the problems caused by drugs themselves. After all, prohibition isn't drug control: Prohibition releases all control to the illicit market. Overdoses are caused by bags of unknown strength, contents, and quality that are purchased on the illicit market, not pharmaceutical-grade heroin that can be dosed reliably. Indeed, fentanyl is safely and successfully used in medical settings, but when it and its analogues are cut in to illicit market products for consumption by unknowing purchasers,...

June 26, 2017Read more...

June 20 #TestItTuesday Alert: Darth Vader Presses Sold As MDMA Testing As Caffeine and Methamphetamine

It’s #TestItTuesday! Darth Vader-shaped pills (also called “Multicolored Face”) sold in Birmingham, Alabama as ecstasy (MDMA) are testing as caffeine and methamphetamine. Test results were published on June 13, and reactions on Marquis, Mecke, and Mandelin are consistent. The appearance of the tablet is multicolored, purplish grey with white lines. Mixing two stimulants such as caffeine and methamphetamine can be dangerous or fatal, as it causes a rise in heart and breathing rates. With the prevalence of highly adulterated substances in today’s vast-reaching and unregulated black market, it is vital to always test before you ingest. Purchasing a DanceSafe drug checking kit...

June 20, 2017Read more...

Drinking water to counter negative responses to drugs can lead to hyponatremia

It is important to stay hydrated at music festivals and events, but consuming too much water can cause hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when sodium levels in the blood are abnormally low. Sodium is an electrolyte, which means that it helps regulate the amount of water that's in and around the body’s cells. When too much water is consumed, it can dilute the concentration of sodium in the body and cause cells to swell, potentially leading to health problems or even death. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include nausea and vomiting, headache, confusion, loss of energy/fatigue, restlessness and irritability, muscle...

June 19, 2017Read more...