Psychedelic Safety Hub Launches: Free, Evidence-Based Resource for Harm Reduction
January 27, 2025
Berkeley, CA - The Psychedelic Safety Institute (PSI) today announced the launch of the Psychedelic Safety Hub, a freely accessible digital resource designed to support safer psychedelic use through evidence-based information on contraindications and harm reduction practices. Building on existing harm reduction efforts across the field, this platform aims to make peer-reviewed safety research more accessible to diverse stakeholders.
The Safety Hub provides citation-backed information on substances including psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, DMT, mescaline, ketamine, and ibogaine. Each substance profile includes contraindications, drug interactions, adverse event data, prevalence statistics, and harm reduction strategies informed by recent clinical trials and epidemiological research.
"As psychedelic use expands across therapeutic, ceremonial, and personal contexts, accessible safety information can help support informed decision-making," said Stacey Wallin, CEO and Co-Founder of PSI. "The Safety Hub is intended to serve individuals, clinicians, facilitators, and researchers seeking evidence-based guidance on reducing preventable harms."
While safety information exists across academic journals and various resources, discovering and synthesizing this research can be challenging. The Safety Hub organizes contraindications by severity (critical, high, moderate) with clear risk levels (absolute, relative, caution), detailed mechanisms of harm, prevalence data, and specific harm reduction recommendations. All information links directly to peer-reviewed sources for transparency.
Through stakeholder research, PSI identified areas where consolidated safety resources could support the field:
Accessible contraindication screening information
Evidence-based guidance on polydrug interactions
Clear differentiation between substance-specific risks
Harm reduction strategies applicable across diverse use contexts
Safety information reflecting recent clinical trial findings
"This resource is designed to help translate research into accessible guidance," said Stacey. "We hope the Safety Hub can support clinicians screening patients, facilitators preparing for ceremonies, researchers designing protocols, and individuals making informed decisions about personal use."
The Safety Hub includes sections on:
Contraindications: Cardiovascular, psychiatric, neurological, and medication interactions
Adverse Events: Psychological, physiological, and perceptual effects with prevalence data
Harm Reduction Practices: Screening, monitoring, set and setting, integration support
Case Studies: Examples of safety protocols and risk management approaches
Extended Difficulties: Recognition and response to persistent adverse effects
The platform is designed for ongoing updates as new research emerges. PSI welcomes feedback from the community to help refine and expand the Safety Hub.
Call for Community Engagement
PSI invites researchers, clinicians, harm reduction organizations, and community stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing development of the Safety Hub. Those interested in suggesting additional resources, reporting inaccuracies, or collaborating on expanded content are encouraged to contact feedback@psychedelicsafety.institute.
"The Safety Hub is intended to evolve through community input and emerging research," said Malcolm Garland, COO and Co-Founder of PSI. "Our aim is to support the field with accessible, evidence-based safety information that reflects the expertise of practitioners, researchers, and harm reduction specialists."
The Psychedelic Safety Hub is freely accessible at www.psychedelicsafetyhub.org.
About PSI
The Psychedelic Safety Institute is a 501(c)(3) strategy lab co-founded by Stacey Wallin and Malcolm Garland that supports ecosystem alignment to collaboratively address safety issues related to psychedelic use. As psychedelic awareness and use have expanded, concerns from regulators, media, and the public about safety have increased. PSI works to support the psychedelic field and adjacent stakeholders through shared understanding, coordinated actions, and education.
Contact: hello@psychedelicsafety.institute
Note: The Psychedelic Safety Hub provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice. Individuals should consult qualified healthcare providers for personalized guidance.
Disclaimer
PSI does not endorse, encourage, or facilitate the use of illicit substances. All our information is for educational purposes only and should not replace consultation with qualified healthcare providers.
Our content is based on publicly available information, non-representative surveys, and stakeholder interviews, with inherent limitations in scope and representation. Data analysis involved AI assistance and is subject to human error and interpretation variability. Individual psychedelic experiences vary greatly and may not be fully represented in our resources.
Users should be aware that some content may be triggering, particularly materials addressing harm and misconduct. We acknowledge that our resources provide a partial view of the rapidly evolving psychedelic ecosystem and welcome community feedback for improvements.
For a full list of disclaimers and limitations, click here.