These are the Tryptamines in your Neighbourhood!

 Tryptamines vs. Phenethylamines

Although some hallucinogenic substances don’t fall into either category, a vast majority of known hallucinogens are either tryptamines or phenethylamines. Tryptamines and Phenethylamines are classes of chemicals encompassing many psychoactive substances that have been used both for medicine and spiritual awakening for thousands of years. Continue reading

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone

MDPV

Super coke. When you say out loud, it sounds kind of epic. It is as though they chose the name to make you think that this relatively new white powder was going to get you even higher than the best cocaine you’d ever laid your hands on. So question is, is it true? Here are some things that you should know if you or someone you know is planning on/or has tried it. Continue reading

Imagine: Young Women Who Use Drugs in Lebanon

 Imagine, for a moment, that you are a young woman. Imagine then, that because of your gender and because of your age, your voice is always muted, and your decisions are not your own to make. Imagine that you are raped. Imagine the police confronting the person who assaulted you, asking them if they had sex with you with the intent of marrying you. Imagine, that if they answer “yes” to this question, then it would not be considered rape. Imagine that if you consumed drugs and were sent to jail as a result, you would be considered a prostitute. Yet the man who raped you would not be considered a rapist. For many Lebanese women, theyneed not imagine. This is the reality that they are confronted with. Continue reading

Dear TRIP! Community

I wanted to a moment to thank you for your very generous contributions towards my participation at the 2011 International Harm Reduction Conference in Beirut at the beginning of the month. It was a truly amazing and unique experience that allowed me to meet so many people from around the world who work in the same field and share the common goals of more sensible drug policy and more comprehensive harm reduction programs. Continue reading

TRIP! Highschool Workshops

So as the school year comes to an end, we here at TRIP! need to squeeze in a few more workshops in Toronto high schools. TRIP! surveys have shown that youth are least likely to go to teachers or guidance counselors for information and most likely to go to TRIP! or friends. We believe that having a reliable and unbiased source of information to youth is extremely important when it comes to safer sex and drug use. Continue reading

Cognitive Effects of Ketamine, Cannabis and Poly-Drug Use

 Researchers at Ryerson University are interested in studying cognitive performance associated with the effects of ketamine, cannabis and other recreational drugs, in comparison to the performance of drug-naïve participants. Your participation will require completing questionnaires about drug history and experiences associated with both legal and illegal drugs. Questions about personal experiences may cause psychological discomfort. In addition, you will be asked to complete various measures regarding your experiences, thoughts, and feelings, as well as virtual-reality and other computerized tasks measuring navigation and memory skills. Information learned about you in this study will be maintained secure and confidential within our lab. Continue reading