HARM REDUCTION
Take care of each other.
Eight principles drawn from published clinical trial protocols and harm reduction literature. None of this is medical advice — it is the framework that researchers use.
Psilocybin remains Schedule III under Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This page is educational. Nothing here encourages illegal activity or substitutes for professional medical or psychological guidance.
Start lower than you think you need
Psilocybin potency varies significantly between strains, batches, and individual metabolism. A dose that was moderate for someone else — or even for you six months ago — may hit differently today. Cut any unfamiliar strain or new batch by 30%. You can always increase on the next session. You cannot undo a dose.
Know your contraindications before you start
Psilocybin is not appropriate for everyone. A personal or family history of schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, or any condition involving psychosis is the most consistently cited contraindication in clinical literature. If any of those apply — stop here.
Understand your drug interactions
SSRIs and SNRIs blunt psilocybin response significantly and can cause serotonin syndrome in combination with MAOIs. Lithium increases seizure risk when combined with psilocybin — this combination is considered dangerous. Tramadol shares a serotonergic mechanism and should be avoided. Stimulants increase cardiovascular stress. If you are on any psychiatric medication, consult a healthcare provider before proceeding.
Have a sober sitter for anything above a threshold dose
Clinical trial protocols universally include a trained guide or sitter. The value is not just safety — a calm, trusted presence is one of the strongest predictors of a positive outcome. For sessions above 1.5g (or above 0.75g of high-potency strains like Penis Envy), having a sober person present is not optional harm reduction — it is standard practice.
Set your environment before you dose
A safe physical space — one you will not need to leave for 6–8 hours — matters. Remove hazards, turn off phones, have water and a blanket accessible, and know how you will contact someone if needed. Choosing to begin a high-dose session in an environment you cannot control is itself the risk. See our Set & Setting guide for detail.
Wait two weeks minimum between sessions
Psilocybin tolerance builds rapidly. Dosing again within a week will require a substantially larger dose for similar effects — and tolerance compounding can produce unpredictable responses. Two weeks is the minimum; many practitioners recommend a full month. Regular high-frequency use is the pattern most associated with adverse psychological outcomes in observational data.
If you feel overwhelmed: surrender, not fight
The most consistent clinical guidance for difficult experiences is not to resist them. Grounding techniques that work: lie down, close your eyes, focus on your breath, and remind yourself that the experience is temporary and caused by a substance with a known duration. Changing your environment (moving outside, into a different room) can shift the experience significantly. If symptoms persist or worsen, call emergency services.
Integration matters as much as the experience
The research linking psilocybin to lasting positive outcomes — for depression, addiction, and wellbeing — consistently identifies integration as a key component. Integration means setting aside intentional time after the session to reflect, journal, discuss with a trusted person, and connect the experience to your daily life. The dose is not the whole protocol.
Resources
About this content
Written by the shroomDOSAGE Research Team. Principles are drawn from published clinical trial protocols (Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, NYU), the Zendo Project harm reduction framework, and DanceSafe operational guidelines. All contraindication and drug interaction information is cross-referenced against peer-reviewed pharmacology literature. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.