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Other Common Drugs

While many students abstain from using other drugs outside of alcohol and cannabis, we recognize that others are exploring. Although using substances always presents some inherent level of risk due to questions of legality and lack of regulation, there are ways to use that are safer than others. Testing before ingesting, being aware of dosage, sourcing, as well as set and setting are all important. Click on the links to learn more about different substances- what they do, their potential health impacts, and harm reduction tips. For more on how to test pills, powders, and crystals for fentanyl, check out our section on harm reduction support.

Cocaine

What is it?

Cocaine is a stimulant that can come in powder form (cocaine hydrochloride) or in rocks as crack cocaine (cocaine reacted with ammonium or baking soda). It is derived from coca leaves, which are commonly used as a mild stimulant in South American countries, usually prepared as a tea or people simply chew the leaves. It previously was an ingredient in Coca Cola and was a common medical remedy before its use became more restricted in the U.S. It still has some acceptable medical uses today.

Why it is used

Individuals tend to feel euphoria as well as increased confidence and libido. while using cocaine. It is a stimulant, making people feel more alert and focused. It also reduces appetite.

How it’s taken

Cocaine is usually inhaled or “snorted.” The powder is chopped, separated into “lines,” and then snorted off a small spoon, or through a straw or rolled-up dollar bill. Though less common, cocaine can be injected into veins or under the skin. Crack is smoked. Chips or chunks are usually placed in a pipe and heated with a match or cigarette lighter. The user inhales the vapors. Cocaine can also be taken as a nose spray.

Short term risks of use

It causes the heart to beat more rapidly and blood vessels to constrict. The user’s pupils dilate; body temperature rises; heart rate and blood pressure increase. Cocaine’s immediate effects include euphoria, hyper-stimulation and reduced fatigue. Users of cocaine also report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. The “high” from snorting cocaine lasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking crack lasts for five to 10 minutes.

Common side effects are headaches, nasal/sinus irritation, and increased risk for seizures. Cocaine can be very addictive to some individuals. 

Long term risks of use

Weight loss; increased risk of heart attack and stroke; issues with memory, attention and impulsivity that last even after cessation of use; kidney failure. 

Overamping is the term used to describe an overdose while on stimulants. This might look like high body temperature, passing out, jerky movements and agitation. Rhabdomyolysis (known colloquially as “rhabdo”) causes muscle breakdown and has been known to occur with stimulant use (i.e. meth, cocaine).

Is it addictive?

Cocaine can be very addictive, especially crack cocaine because it gives a more intense high, but lasts for a short amount of time. Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) is a recognized substance use disorder in the DSM V.

Harm reduction tips

  • Do not share snorting or smoking paraphernalia as this can spread hepatitis C.
  • Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is often laced into cocaine and can clump. Learn how to use fentanyl test strips
  • Use saline before, during, and after snorting cocaine to avoid damage to the nasal cavities and sinuses.
  • Avoid mixing cocaine and alcohol as that can create a byproduct called cocaethylene which can be toxic. Concurrent cocaine and opiate use is also linked to higher risk of overdose. 
  • Take breaks from dancing to cool off and hydrate to avoid overheating. 
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/cocaine/ on 2025, June 5
  • Roque Bravo, R., Faria, A. C., Brito-da-Costa, A. M., Carmo, H., Mladěnka, P., Dias da Silva, D., Remião, F., & on behalf of The OEMONOM Researchers. (2022). Cocaine: An Updated Overview on Chemistry, Detection, Biokinetics, and Pharmacotoxicological Aspects including Abuse Pattern. Toxins, 14(4), 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14040278
  • Schwartz, E. K., Wolkowicz, N. R., De Aquino, J. P., MacLean, R. R., & Sofuoglu, M. (2022). Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD): Current Clinical Perspectives. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 13, 25–46. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S337338

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Crystal meth

What is it?

Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine that may make the user feel energized, happy, and alert as well as a sense of increased libido. This stimulant can additionally cause feelings of paranoia, anxiety, heart issues, and/or stroke, especially if used with regularity. It is usually smoked or injected. If someone takes too much, this is called “overamping”, which some would call a non-fatal overdose. Methamphetamine was first created in 1887 and was used by soldiers during WWII as a stimulant.

Why it is used

Individuals using meth often feel more social, alert, and confident. Some feel an increase in libido, making it a popular drug for chemsex or PnP.

How it’s taken

Meth can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected, or booty bumped (used rectally) with doses ranging from 5-40 mg. Crystal meth is typically smoked or injected. The effects can last 2-6 hours if smoked or 7-12 hours if taken orally.

Short term risks of use

Common side effects are teeth grinding (bruxism), dehydration, wakefulness, the desire to be doing something, agitation, heart palpitations and euphoria. 

There is a risk of overamping, the term used to describe an overdose while on stimulants. This might look like high body temperature, hyponatremia (depletion of salt in the body), passing out, jerky movements and agitation. 

Long term risks of use

Meth can cause dry mouth, which if not addressed can cause tooth decay. Frequent use can lead to not sleeping for days on end, which can result in psychosis and memory impairment. Cardiovascular risks increase with use, including risk of stroke. Rhabdomyolysis (known colloquially as “rhabdo”) causes muscle breakdown and has been known to occur with stimulant use (i.e. meth, cocaine).

Is it addictive?

Meth can be very addictive for some individuals. The come down can feel rough, which increases the likelihood of redosing. 

Harm reduction tips

  • Overheating can happen when people use some club drugs and are dancing for long periods of time, especially in the sun, for example at music festivals. Taking breaks and drinking water mixed with electrolytes can help prevent this. 
  • Some individuals like to use drugs while hooking up (known as PnP or chemsex). Talk about consent, protection, and your boundaries with your partner(s) while sober. People tend to be less on top of using condoms when under the influence, so you might explore ways to remind yourself to use protection. Some sexual acts are more risky than others.
  • Meth will keep you awake and if you do not sleep for several days, you may experience paranoia or seeing/hearing things that aren’t there. Mediate your use so that you are getting sleep.
  • Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is often laced into powders and pills, and can clump. How to use Fentanyl test strips.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). Meth. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/speed/ on 2025, June 10.
  • Edinoff, A. N., Kaufman, S. E., Green, K. M., Provenzano, D. A., Lawson, J., Cornett, E. M., Murnane, K. S., Kaye, A. M., & Kaye, A. D. (2022). Methamphetamine Use: A Narrative Review of Adverse Effects and Related Toxicities. Health psychology research, 10(3), 38161. https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.38161
  • NEXT Distro. (n.d.). Overamping. Retrieved from https://nextdistro.org/resources-collection/overamping-stimulant-overdose on 2025, June 5.
  • NIDA. (2024, November 20). Methamphetamine. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/methamphetamine on 2025, April 11
Ecstasy

What is it?

Ecstasy is the name for MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine). MDMA (and its close relation MDA) are classified as enactogens, drugs that have stimulant, hallucinogenic and mood-improving qualities. It was originally developed as a diet aid. Before it was made illegal in 1985, it was used experimentally by mental health professionals in controlled settings to help people in couple’s counseling. It began to be used illicitly in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ecstasy use among teenagers almost doubled between 1998 and 2001 and it is the only drug which has shown a marked increase in consumption in the college population with a 69% increase between 1997 and 1999. 

Why it is used

Ecstasy produces a euphoric high that lasts from 3 to 4 hours by generating a rush of serotonin and a smaller amount of dopamine, the brain messenger molecules that help to regulate mood. Users describe Ecstasy as making them empathic, producing a temporary state of loving openness. Depending on its contents, Ecstasy can also cause mild hallucinogenic effects. Users report that the rush of serotonin is pleasurable and produces both an emotionally relaxed and physically exhilarated state. However, this extremely fast deployment of serotonin can deplete normal serotonin levels and produce depression or malaise after the drug wears off.

How it’s taken

Ecstasy is almost always swallowed in 80 to 125 mg pills. It is very infrequently snorted or taken in a liquid form through injection. The strength and contents of Ecstasy tablets cannot be known accurately. Sometimes these pills are stamped with symbols (like clover leafs, horseshoes, or smiley faces) as underground brand names or identifying markers. However, these symbols do not mean that a pill is pure or safe. All Ecstasy available on the street is produced in unregulated black market laboratories.

Short term risks of use

Bruxism (teeth grinding), dehydration, hyperthermia (overheating), lack of appetite, tachycardia, hyponatremia (drop in sodium levels), eye wiggles, rhabdomyolysis, and difficulties with urinating.

Long term risks of use

There are few good studies on long term impacts of ecstasy use. It is believed that it may cause some negative effects cognitively. It is difficult to tease out what is related to ecstasy as many users also use other substances and it is not uncommon for MDMA to be adulterated with other substances. 

Is it addictive?

Ecstasy is generally not considered addictive. It is considered best practice to space out use to avoid depleting serotonin in the brain. 

Harm reduction tips

  • Overheating can happen when people use some club drugs and are dancing for long periods of time, especially in the sun, for example at music festivals. To prevent this, take breaks, drink water mixed with electrolytes, and avoid combining MDMA with alcohol and other stimulants. 
  • If you experience a severe headache, you might be having a medical emergency and should get assessed immediately. 
  • Some individuals like to use drugs while hooking up (known as PnP or chemsex). Talk about consent, protection, and your boundaries with your partner(s) while sober. People tend to be less on top of using condoms when under the influence, so you might explore ways to remind yourself to use protection. Some sexual acts are more risky than others.
  • Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is often laced into pressed pills and can clump.
  • Do not mix MDMA with SSRI antidepressants, MAO Inhibitors, or Wellbutrin (bupropion). MAO Inhibitors are especially known to cause serotonin syndrome, which has led to deaths. Mixing MDMA with other stimulants can also lead to overamping. 
  • Space your rolls out 3-6 months. 
  • Some people feel very sad after rolling. Be gentle with yourself and plan aftercare. 
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

  • Cohen, I.V., Makunts, T., Abagyan, R., & Thomas, K. (2021). Concomitant drugs associated with increased mortality for MDMA users reported in a drug safety surveillance database. Sci Rep Vol. 11, 5997. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85389-x
  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). MDMA. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/ecstasy/ on 2025, June 10.
  • DanceSafe. (2024, Jan. 24). MDMA Contraindications. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/mdma-contraindications/ on 2025, June 10.
  • Montgomery, C. & Roberts, C.A. (2022). Neurological and cognitive alterations induced by MDMA in humans. Experimental Neurology, Vol 347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113888.
  • NEXT Distro. (n.d.). Overamping. Retrieved from https://nextdistro.org/resources-collection/overamping-stimulant-overdose on 2025, June 5.
  • van Amsterdam, J., Brunt, T.M., Pierce, M. et al. (2021). Hard Boiled: Alcohol Use as a Risk Factor for MDMA-Induced Hyperthermia: a Systematic Review. Neurotox Res, Vol. 39, 2120–2133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-021-00416-z
GHB

What is it?

GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid) is typically an odorless, colorless liquid, with a slightly salty taste. It is classified as a sedative and is in the same drug family as rohypnol and ketamine.

GHB is used as a general anesthetic in Europe. In the US, the FDA approved GHB for use in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) in 2002. This approval came with severe restrictions, including its use only for the treatment of narcolepsy and the requirement of a patient registry monitored by the FDA.

Recreationally, GHB and its variations (BD and GBL) are club drugs that can cause the user to feel euphoria, increased libido, and relaxation. In higher doses, it can cause nausea, loss of consciousness, vertigo, and drowsiness. It is also used in athletic circles as a body-building drug. It acts quickly (can be felt within 30 minutes) and is hard to detect on drug tests because it clears the out of the body quickly. Because of this, it has been used to facilitate sexual assault.

Why it is used

GHB can produce hallucinations and feelings of relaxation and euphoria. People who use GHB also report feeling increased energy, feeling affectionate and sociable, mild disinhibition and enhanced sexual experience.

How it’s taken

GHB is generally taken in a liquid form, though it is sometimes found in powder, tablet, or capsules. Since in its liquid form the strength of GHB varies, and people’s reactions to it vary, it is very easy to take a dangerous dose of this drug. The effects of the drug kick in within 30 minutes after taking it and last up to 4 hours.GHB, GBL, and BD are often sold interchangeably as “G”. They have different strengths and need to be dosed differently.

Short term risks of use

Health risks include nausea, loss of coordination, difficulty concentrating, and loss of gag reflex. Because doses are difficult to quantify, overdose can occur quite easily, especially when combined with alcohol. 

GHB can cause sedation and in high doses can cause loss of consciousness. If you aren’t around people who are safe, this can put you at risk of sexual assault or asphyxiation (if you roll onto a squishy pillow or into water while unconscious and can’t breath). 


Because GHB leaves the body’s system relatively quickly, it is not easily detected by medical tests. It is important to tell a medical provider that you have been using GHB so that you can get appropriate medical help.

GHB can easily be slipped into someone’s drink undetected. If you start to feel symptoms that don’t make sense with what you are drinking, get help immediately.

Long term risks of use

There is evidence that it can be addictive, according to anecdotal reports from users and medical personnel, but it has not been well studied. 

Is it addictive?

There is no GHB use disorder in the DSM V, however there are documented cases of individuals experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping use. Repeated use of GHB may lead to withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety and tremors. Treatment options remain limited. Because of the severity of withdrawal symptoms from GHB, it’s imperative to have professional help when detoxing from GHB. Withdrawal can include delirium, disorientation, and hallucinations that may last up to two weeks.

Harm reduction tips

  • Drugs that have sedative effects, like GHB, can cause immobility. They should not be used while around water, open flame, or strangers. Better yet, have a trip sitter around to help keep you safe.
  • Some individuals like to use drugs while hooking up (known as PnP or chemsex). Talk about consent, protection, and your boundaries with your partner(s) while sober. People tend to be less on top of using condoms when under the influence, so you might explore ways to remind yourself to use protection. Some sexual acts are more risky than others.
  • If someone becomes unconscious or has a seizure while using the drug, they need emergency medical attention.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

Inhalants

What is it?

These are chemicals that are inhaled such as nitrous oxide (also known as whippets) and poppers (alkyl nitrites). The high with these substances are typically very short-lived.

Why it is used

Nitrous oxide is a dissociative anesthetic that can cause euphoria, dissociation, and hallucinations. It is still commonly used in dentistry when performing procedures and has applications in the food and automotive industries. 

Poppers are popular in the queer scene and they are vasodialators, relaxing the smooth muscles (especially of the anus and vagina). Many people find that enjoyable for sexual activity. They come in small bottles labeled for other uses (i.e. room deodorizer) and the liquid becomes gas as soon as you pop open the bottle. In clinical use, they are used for heart conditions to increase blood flow. 

How it’s taken

Nitrous oxide/whippets are emptied into a balloon first and then inhaled. You should not inhale the gas directly because it is extremely cold and can cause mouth, throat, and lung damage. 

Poppers typically come in small bottles and the gas is wafted to the nose. The liquid can cause chemical burns if it comes into contact with skin and so avoid holding the popper too close to your nose. 

Short term risks of use

Nitrous Oxide inactivates vitamin B12, which can lead to neurological problems. These can happen more immediately in individuals who are already B12 deficient. Frostbite can occur if administered incorrectly. Lung irritation and potentially losing consciousness are other risks.

Spilling the liquid from poppers on your skin can cause chemical burns. Other risks are impaired judgment (especially when using protection for sexual activity).

Long term risks of use

Long-term nitrous use can lead to severe depletion of vitamin B12 and subsequent neurological damage with high, sustained use. This can include issues with movement, symptoms that mirror those of schizophrenia, and other complications. Information on long-term popper use is limited.

Is it addictive?

It isn’t very clear. Research on poppers and whippets is limited, though there is evidence of some individuals engaging in heavy use. If you find that you are using them more frequently and in larger quantities, you might try abstaining for a while or seeking assistance. 

Harm reduction tips

  • Avoid contact with the liquid in poppers and store appropriately to avoid spills and/or exposure to flames.
  • Do not mix poppers with male-performance enhancing drugs (like Viagra or Cialis) as both cause increased blood flow, potentially leading to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
  • Talk about consent and protection before you use.
  • Vegans and vegetarians could be at increased risk for complications with nitrous oxide use as they are more likely to be B12 deficient.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

  • Allan, J., Cameron, J., & Bruno, J. (2022). A Systematic Review of Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use: Implications for Policy, Service Delivery and Individuals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811567
  • Back, S., Kroon, E., Colyer-Patel, K., & Cousijn, J. (2024). Nitrous oxide addiction or not, action is needed. A response to commentaries. Addiction, 119(4), 627-628. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16457
  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). Poppers. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/poppers/ on 2025, June 10
  • Redmon, J., Cruse, B., & Kiers, L. (2021). Nitrous oxide-induced neurological disorders: an increasing public health concern. Internal Medicine Journal.  https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15544
  • Xiang, Y., Li, L., Ma, X., Li, S., Xue, Y., Yan, P. Chen, M., & Wu, J. (2021). Recreational Nitrous Oxide Abuse: Prevalence, Neurotoxicity, and Treatment. Neurotox Res, Vol. 39, 975–985. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-021-00352-y
Ketamine

What is it?

Ketamine, sometimes referred to as Special K, Vitamin K or Cat Valiums, is a dissociative anesthetic that was developed in the 1960’s. It is still used in both veterinary medicine and for use in humans, primarily as an anesthetic, but there are current studies exploring its efficacy in treating depression and PTSD. People began using it for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects (floaty feeling or out-of-body sensation) in the 1980’s. It can cause sedation, memory loss, and inability to move. It is typically snorted or injected. It has also been used to facilitate sexual assault. 

Why it is used

In large doses ketamine produces effects in humans similar to phencyclidine (PCP) such as dream-like dissociative states and hallucinations. It has a number of contradictory effects, including stimulant, sedative, anesthetic, and hallucinogenic properties. Users describe feeling like they are drunk, stoned, and tripping all at once.

How it’s taken

Ketamine is either sold as a dry white powder or a clear liquid (in its original pharmaceutical packaging). The powder is made by drying the liquid. The residue from this drying process is then crushed and snorted in small doses (called bumps). In rare cases ketamine is injected intramuscularly or smoked with tobacco or cannabis. Whether smoked or snorted, the effects begin in a few minutes and lasts less than an hour. The dose taken recreationally is often 15-1000x times higher than doses being used for clinical purposes.

Short term risks of use

Ketamine can cause sedation and in high doses can cause loss of consciousness. If you aren’t around people who are safe, this can put you at risk of sexual assault or asphyxiation (if you roll onto a squishy pillow or into water while unconscious and can’t breath). Tachycardia, hallucinations, nausea, and agitation have been documented in the literature as well. 

Long term risks of use

Possible risks include difficulties with memory and learning, increased impulsivity, urinary problems, “K cramps”, sleep issues, and dependency. Risk for depression, anxiety, and delusional symptoms increase with long-term use. Many of these risks are associated with heavy recreational use and not currently with individuals using it for therapeutic uses in a supervised setting. Many users of ketamine also use other drugs, which can complicate our understanding of the risks associated with ketamine alone.

Is it addictive?

When used clinically, we do not tend to see dependence on the drug. When used in larger amounts recreationally, there is evidence of users experiencing withdrawal. 

Harm reduction tips

  • Drugs that have sedative effects, like ketamine, can cause immobility. They should not be used while around water or open flame. Better yet, have a trip sitter around to help keep you safe.
  • Use ketamine by itself. Alcohol or benzos with ketamine increases its sedative effects, slowing breathing. Mixing it with MDMA or cocaine can lead to overamping and tachycardia. 
  • Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is often laced into pressed pills and can clump.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

References

  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). Ketamine. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/ketamine/ on 2025, June 4
  • DEA. (2020). Drug Fact Sheet- Ketamine. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ketamine-2020.pdf on 2025, June 10
  • Marongiu, S., van Eijk, M. Gresnigt, F.M.J, Croes, E.A., & Franssen, E.J.F. (2025). Rising incidence of recreational ketamine use: Clinical cases and management in emergency settings. Toxicology Reports, 14 (101940). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101940.
  • Van Amsterdam, J., & Van Den Brink, W. (2021). Harm related to recreational ketamine use and its relevance for the clinical use of ketamine. A systematic review and comparison study. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 21(1), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2021.1949454
LSD

What is it?

LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. It is a hallucinogen. It was discovered in 1943, but didn’t gain popularity until the 1960’s. Experiments were conducted in the U.S. to explore potential applications in psychiatry and warfare (such as using it as a truth serum). Figures such as Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary promoted its use for expanding consciousness. 

Why it is used

LSD, like other hallucinogens, produces a distortion in the user’s sense of reality, including images, sounds, and sensations that do not really exist. These hallucinations can be pleasurable and for some people even intellectually stimulating, but they can also be disorienting or disturbing and result in a negative emotional experience (bad trip). It is difficult to determine what kind of an experience a person will have on LSD because the same person can have very different experiences each time. As with all drugs, but especially with LSD, a user’s experience is shaped by her previous drug experience, expectations, setting, as well as the neurological effects of the drug.

How it’s taken

LSD is usually taken by ingesting small tabs of paper (frequently placed under the tongue) which have been soaked in the liquid form of the drug then dried. In rare cases it is taken in a liquid, gelatin, or tablet form. Sometimes a dose is soaked into a sugarcube. Doses range from 20 to 100 micrograms now, though in the 1960s they ranged from 100 to 200 micrograms. Because LSD is produced illegally, it is difficult to know how strong a dose is. The effects of the drug begin in about 30 minutes and last up to 12 hours. It can be very difficult to sleep if LSD has been taken in the last 6 hours. LSD should not have much taste.

Short-term risks of use

Extreme changes in behavior and mood; changes in sense of light, hearing, touch, smell, and time; dilated pupils; sweating; wakefulness; increased blood pressure; changes in body temperature; nausea; imbalance; less ability to recognize sad faces; fatigue the next day.

Long-term risks of use

Some individuals experience flashbacks and rarely continued hallucinations even after they have stopped using LSD (known as post-hallucinogen perceptual disorder), large doses may cause convulsions or coma. 

Is it addictive?

LSD does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Addiction to hallucinogens is rare, although poly-drug addicts (people who are addicted to several drugs) frequently abuse hallucinogens as well. Because LSD users develop extreme tolerance to LSD rapidly, the drug cannot be abused for more than a few consecutive days, preventing the kind of physical and psychological dependence associated with other drugs. This tolerance usually goes away after a week or so of abstinence from the drug.

Harm reduction tips

  • Make sure you take it with a sober trip sitter you know and trust, preferably someone who knows how strong the effects of a hallucinogen can be.
  • Start with a small dose and wait at least 90 minutes before you consider taking more. 
  • Set and setting are important when using hallucinogens, meaning your mindset, where you are, and who you are with can greatly impact your trip. 
  • Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis may want to avoid hallucinogens. 
  • If you’re having a bad time, avoid flashing lights and visuals and get a friend to take you to a safe, calm space.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

How do I help a friend who’s having a bad trip?

It is important to make your friend feel safe and comfortable, usually away from other people, visual stimulation, or noises. Speak in a soothing voice to them and reassure them that their bad emotions, sensations, and visions are just the effects of the drug and will wear off in time. If your friend is inconsolable or seems violently agitated, then seek medical help right away. Call EMS at 831.459.2231 or call 911.

References

Prescription drugs

What are prescription drugs?

While high-risk binge drinking still tops the list of substance abuse issues on college campuses, the non-medical use of prescription drugs – most notably stimulants, sedatives, and pain relievers – is a growing issue at UCSC and across the country. 

Many students may not even realize that they, their roommate, teammate, or friend are using these medications. When used the right way and under a doctor’s supervision, prescription drugs are safe and effective in treating countless medical conditions. (Mis)using prescription medications can be very risky. Especially when used with other drugs at the same time. 

Someone is misusing a prescription medication if they take a medication that is prescribed to them differently or at a higher dose than is recommended by their healthcare professional to alleviate symptoms or try to self-medicate with someone else’s medication. For example, popping a friend’s Percocet (prescription pain medicine) to get rid of a headache or asking a roommate for a stimulant to pull an all-night study session before a big exam. 

Intentionally using a prescription drug to experiment with it, feel good or get “high” is an example of prescription drug abuse. Whatever the reason, using these medications without a prescription or medical oversight of their risks can lead to addiction, overdose, and even death. It’s also illegal. 

Many students mistakenly believe prescription medications are safe because they are FDA approved and prescribed by a doctor. But all medications have risks and they are safest when taken as directed by the person for whom they were prescribed. 

Anti-Anxiety – Benzodiazepines

  • Includes:  Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Xanax, Librium
  • How it’s taken: Anti-anxiety medications include Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Xanax
  • Occasional use: You may feel calm, sleepy, less tension, anxiety, or panic. These feelings can decrease over time as the body builds up tolerance to the substance.
  • Sustained use over time: Higher potential for addiction, withdrawal can be long and painful.
  • Most dangerous with: Alcohol, pain medications, some over-the-counter cold and allergy medications. All of these are depressants that can suppress breathing and cause sedation.    

Antidepressants

  • Include:  Prozac, Zoloft, Celeza, Paxil, Wellbutrin
  • How it’s taken: Orally with the substance building up in the body over time, so one dose does not have immediate effects. When misused, they are sometimes snorted producing a more immediate effect.
  • Occasional use: You may not feel much as most antidepressants take days or weeks to kick in.
  • Sustained use over time: Taking an antidepressant that is not prescribed to you may cause an imbalance in your own brain chemicals and you will be at risk of withdrawal symptoms, which can be very uncomfortable. The bigger risk is for the person whose medication you are taking, who is being deprived of the medication they may need to function optimally. 
  • Most dangerous with: Ecstasy (MDMA, Molly) due to serotonin syndrome, a dangerous increase in serotonin in the brain that can cause seizures. Mixing alcohol and antidepressants may make your depression worse or impact coordination and wakefulness. 

Over the Counter (OTC) Meds 

  • Includes: Cold medicine, caffeine pills, sudafed, diet pills, vitamin supplements
  • How it’s taken: Cough medicines containing dextromethorphan are taken orally (liquid or capsules), in as much as 10-30 times the recommended dose. Others are taken in pill form.
  • Occasional use: You may feel euphoric or disconnected. You may experience heart palpitations, dizziness, blackouts, insomnia, delusions, or seizures, and even coma or death from respiratory distress or heat stroke. 
  • Sustained use over time: Commonly causes nausea, stomach cramps or other unpleasant gastrointestinal effects that may persist for days after use. There is increased risk for liver, kidney, lung, pancreas, and/or brain damage. Can cause users to pee blood. Misuse of diet pills can lead to paranoia and increased issues with eating disorders. Addiction is possible.  
  • Most dangerous with: High doses of cold medicines that contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) can lead to liver damage and death. Diet pills are often forms of amphetamines and should not be mixed with other stimulants.

Pain Killers – Opioids

  • Includes: Oxycontin, Codeine, Fentanyl, Vicodin, Morphine, Percocet, Demerol
  • How it’s taken: Ingested orally as a tablet, capsule, or liquid; crushed and snorted; cooked for intravenous injection; or applied as a patch (for example in the case of fentanyl). 
  • Occasional use: You may experience decreased emotional and physical pain, nausea, drowsiness, or constipation. Taking too much (overdose) can cause loss of consciousness, depressed breathing, or death. 
  • Sustained use over time: Sexual dysfunction, infertility, increased risk of bone fractures, increased risk of infection, addiction, increased risk of heart attack, sleep problems, constipation and gut inflammation, increased risk of overdose.
  • Most dangerous with: Alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, and other medications that cause drowsiness and depression of the central nervous system. 

Study Drugs – Stimulants

  • Includes: Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Focalin, Dexedrine
  • How it’s taken: As a tablet, crushed or snorted, or liquefied so it can be injected. 
  • Occasional use: Wakefulness/sleep disruption, decreased appetite
  • Sustained use over time: Weight loss, addiction, psychosis due to lack of sleep, increased heart rate, heart failure, stroke
  • Most dangerous with: Other stimulants, Wellbutrin (bupropion), Esketamine

Reasons for misusing prescription drugs

Students misuse prescription medications for a whole host of reasons. While some students use prescription medications to feel good or get high, plenty of others turn to these medications to help manage their daily lives – to reduce the stress and anxiety of college life, boost their mood, stay up all night writing a term paper or increase their stamina on the field. A number of college students mistakenly believe that prescription medications are a safer alternative to illegal street drugs like cocaine or heroin, even though some can be just as addictive. These medications are also seen as more acceptable and they are readily available. 

What are the risks of prescription drug misuse?

It really depends on the medication. Some potential complications that can happen include-

  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate
  • Organ damage
  • Addiction
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Seizures
  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke
  • Death

The danger is that many of these substances have synergistic effects – for example prescription pain relievers and alcohol both slow breathing. By ingesting too much of both, someone can literally stop breathing. 

Are prescription drugs addictive?

Prescription drugs can be very addictive depending upon the drug and the person using the drug. 

Are prescription drugs legal?

If they are prescribed to you and you are using them as prescribed. There can be legal consequences for selling your prescription, which can be considered dealing. “Doctor shopping”, visiting multiple clinics with the goal of getting a prescription and/or lying about why you need the prescription is illegal in many jurisdictions. You can additionally be charged with possession if you have prescription medications on you that are not prescribed to you.

Harm reduction tips

  • Test your drugs! Some pressed pills that are made to look like prescription pain medications contain fentanyl. SHOP has free fentanyl test strips available. 
  • Avoid mixing prescription drugs with other substances, including alcohol. Mixing may lead to unwanted synergistic effects. 
  • If you are prescribed medications, ask your doctor if they can be taken safely with alcohol or other substances. You don’t want to find out by accident that your medication makes you drunk way more easily or that mixing MDMA and your anti-depressant can cause serotonin syndrome.
  • Dispose of unneeded prescription medications by dropping them off at the medication disposal bin at the Student Health Center. Many pharmacies and public health departments also host medication take back days. 
  • Don’t share your medications with others. 
  • If you are using substances to focus or stay awake to get your school work done, check out campus resources to help you develop better study habits or manage your time better.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances or if you seek help for a friend. 

References

  • California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Calif, HSC. § 11173 & 11173 (2018). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=11173
  • California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Calif, HSC. § 11350 (2018). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=11350
  • Holm, A. J., Hausman, H., & Rhodes, M. G. (2020). Study strategies and “study drugs”: investigating the relationship between college students’ study behaviors and prescription stimulant misuse. Journal of American College Health, 70(4), 1094–1103. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1785472
  • Kotlińska-Lemieszek, A., & Żylicz, Z. (2022). Less Well-Known Consequences of the Long-Term Use of Opioid Analgesics: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, Vol. 16, 251–264. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S342409
Psilocybin (Shrooms)

What is it?

They are mushrooms that have a naturally occurring substance, psilocybin, that is converted into psilocin in the body. Psilocin is a hallucinogen. There are a variety of mushrooms around the world that contain psilocybin and they are often identifiable because they turn blue when bruised. These are also known as magic mushrooms or simply shrooms. 

Why it is used

Similar to LSD, psilocybin mushrooms can produce visual and auditory distortions, a sense of the world not being real, or feeling connected with everything. There is some research to suggest that it might be an effective treatment for depression and other related conditions, though more research needs to be done. Some users report that a mushroom trip is more unpredictable than that of a LSD trip. 

How it’s taken

Usually taken orally, psilocybin is found in dried or fresh mushrooms or as a powder in capsules. It is sometimes brewed into a tea. Typical doses range from 4 to 10 milligrams, but are hard to control because the active amount of hallucinogens in mushrooms differ widely according to the genus, strength, and condition (fresh or dried) of the mushrooms. It is dangerous to inject. Effects are usually felt within 30 minutes and can last 4-5 hours.

Short-term risks of use

Misidentification is one of the biggest dangers to taking psilocybin mushrooms. It is difficult to know if the mushrooms are psilocybin mushrooms because poisonous mushrooms also cause hallucinogenic effects. Signs that the mushrooms are toxic include stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. Poisonous mushrooms can even lead to death.

Some common risks include the potential for a bad trip, fear, nausea, rapid mood shifts, altered sense of reality, increased blood pressure and heart rate, loss of urinary control, changes in body temperature, numbness, dizziness. 

Long-term risks of use

Long-term use of psilocybin is not well studied at this point. Data on hospital admissions suggests that most negative effects include “hallucinations, agitation, tachycardia, confusion, nausea, and vomiting…” (Leonard, Anderson, & Klein-Schwartz, 2018).

Is it addictive?

Psilocybin does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior and addiction to hallucinogens is rare, although poly-drug addicts (people who are addicted to several drugs) frequently abuse hallucinogens as well. Tolerance to psilocybin mushrooms builds up rapidly and deters regular use.

Harm reduction tips

  • Be certain that the mushrooms you get are indeed edible. Check with an experienced fungus hunter.
  • Have a sober trip sitter- someone who you trust to make sure you are safe and to support you if you are having a bad trip. 
  • Start with a low dose- you can always take more later, but if you take too much, you might be uncomfortably high for a while. 
  • Eat a couple of hours before you trip. Nausea is more likely if you don’t eat before you trip.
  • If you’re having a bad time avoid flashing lights and mirrors, get a friend to take you to a safe, calm space.
  • Worried about a friend or yourself? The university offers medical amnesty if you are seeking help and using substances. 

How do I help a friend who’s having a bad trip?

It is important to make your friend feel safe and comfortable, usually away from other people, visual stimulation, or noises. Speak in a soothing voice to them and reassure them that their bad emotions, sensations, and visions are just the effects of the drug and will wear off in time. If your friend is inconsolable or seems violently agitated, then seek medical help right away. Call EMS at 831.459.2231 or call 911.

References

  • Government of Canada. (2024, Apr. 03). Psilocybin and psilocin (Magic mushrooms).
  • https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/controlled-illegal-drugs/magic-mushrooms.html
  • DanceSafe. (n.d.). Mushrooms. Retrieved June 2, 2025 from https://dancesafe.org/magic-mushrooms/
  • Davis AK, Barrett FS, May DG, et al. Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):481–489. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285
  • Leonard JB, Anderson B, Klein-Schwartz W. (2018). Does getting high hurt? Characterization of cases of LSD and psilocybin-containing mushroom exposures to national poison centers between 2000 and 2016. Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 32(12):1286-1294. doi:10.1177/0269881118793086

Last modified: Oct 31, 2025