Some are intense, disorienting, or even dangerous—especially in unsupported settings.
Psychedelic First Aid (PFA) is a trauma-informed training designed to help you recognize, understand, and respond to someone experiencing difficulty during or after a psychedelic experience. Whether you’re a first responder, festival staff, clinician, teacher, or a concerned community member—you can be prepared to help.
Anyone that wants the skills, knowledge, and confidence to help de-escalate a psychedelic crisis and prevent a psychedelic related emergency from happening.
The basics of psychedelic substances, including science, research, lethal doses, and drug-drug interactions.
How to tell the difference between a challenging experience, a crisis, and an emergency.
What to do when someone is panicking, paranoid or emotionally overwhelmed using the three C's of Psychedelic First Aid.
Real-world scenarios based on frontline experience - Culturally humble, legally informed, and ethically grounded practices.
Grounded in emerging research and lived experience, these three skill sets offer a clear and effective framework to support individuals navigating challenging psychedelic experiences.
Not only is this a more ethical and tailored approach, the framework also supports these potential benefits:
Clear communication is the cornerstone of creating a safe and supportive environment during a psychedelic crisis. Clear, honest, and direct communication helps establish trust and reduces uncertainty, which can be particularly overwhelming in altered states of consciousness.
Responders should calmly explain their actions, intentions, and what the individual can expect in the immediate moment. Avoid vague or ambiguous statements that could increase confusion or paranoia and overly clinical language that can be confusing.
The first step in credibility is knowing at least the basics of psychedelic safety and being confident in your knowledge. The second step in credibility is to speak in a tone that is gentle, and confident, offering reassurance that they are safe and that their experience will pass.
Psychedelics often heighten perceptive abilities; don't be surprised if they can tell when something is "off" with the responder or other people around them. They will notice when a responder is uncomfortable, afraid or uncertain. The responder’s ability to be truthful while remaining calm, grounded, and empathetic can build credibility and de-escalate crisis.
Care isn’t just about being nice—it’s about respecting the emotional and sensory world the person in crisis is experiencing. No matter what they are experiencing, meet them with gentleness and patience.
Instead of trying to control the experiences, responders should adopt a non-judgmental stance, validate the person's feelings, and provide support by creating physical and emotional safety within the environment. This can be as easy as dimming bright lights, finding a calm private space, and offering a snack or water. Many difficult and challenging experiences resolve with safe and comfortable environments.
