Underground Alchemy · Community care
Music is the drug.
UA does not condone illicit drugs. Our vision is for music to be the drug.
The safest way to avoid the risks of recreational drugs is not to use them. This resource helps our community recognize harm, respond to emergencies, and find support without judgment.
Know the risks
Find a substance.
Stimulants
Temperature regulation and cardiovascular strain.
MDMA ↗
Overheating, cardiovascular strain and uncertain contents are central risks.
Cocaine ↗
A stimulant that can cause heart attack, stroke and seizures.
Amphetamine ↗
Misusing prescription or illicit stimulants can cause serious heart and nervous-system effects.
Methamphetamine ↗
Overheating, cardiovascular injury and prolonged psychological effects can be serious.
Dissociatives
Altered awareness and physical risks.
Ketamine ↗
Dissociation, sedation and bladder injury; depressant combinations can suppress breathing.
PCP ↗
Unpredictable dissociation and potentially severe physical toxicity.
Nitrous oxide ↗
Oxygen deprivation and nerve injury can occur; culinary packaging is not a safety guarantee.
Dextromethorphan (DXM) ↗
Cough-medicine misuse can cause poisoning, including from other ingredients.
Psychedelics
Perception, psychological distress and uncertainty.
LSD ↗
Perceptual changes can include intense fear, confusion and unsafe judgment.
Psilocybin ↗
Unpredictable psychological effects and mushroom misidentification are important concerns.
DMT ↗
Intense altered awareness; limited monitored research cannot establish recreational safety.
2C-B ↗
A synthetic psychedelic with limited human safety evidence and uncertain product identity.
NBOMe compounds ↗
Confirmed cases show seizures, overheating and serious organ injury.
Depressants
Sedation and dangerous combinations.
Alcohol ↗
Alcohol overdose can suppress breathing; being legal does not remove risk.
GHB ↗
Loss of consciousness and depressed breathing can be life-threatening.
GBL ↗
Loss of consciousness and depressed breathing can be life-threatening.
Benzodiazepines ↗
Sedating medicines with dependence, withdrawal and dangerous combination risks.
Opioids
Recognizing slowed breathing and responding.
Other substances
Distinct risks, from cannabis to energy drinks.
Cannabis ↗
Impairment and poisoning can occur; edible effects may be delayed and prolonged.
Synthetic cannabinoids ↗
K2 and Spice can cause severe poisoning and are not equivalent to cannabis.
Nitrite poppers ↗
Can impair oxygen delivery and cause dangerous blood-pressure changes.
Caffeine & energy drinks ↗
Feeling awake does not reverse alcohol impairment.