Psychedexthe open encyclopedia
of altered states
About
Psychedex is an open research platform documenting altered states of consciousness—their phenomenology, risks, and how to reduce harm.
| Substance | Class | Duration | Toxicity | Bridges to effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSD | Psychedelic | negligible | ||
| Psilocybin mushrooms | Psychedelic | negligible | ||
| MDMA | Entactogen | moderate | ||
| Ketamine | Dissociative | low | ||
| Cocaine | Stimulant | high | ||
| Amphetamine | Stimulant | low | ||
| Heroin | Opioid | critical |
Contributions open at launch — published edits will appear here. How it works →
Psychedex is an open-access encyclopedia of altered states of consciousness — what produces them, what they feel like, and how to navigate them with care.
The site is organized around four indexes:
- · Substances — what you take
- · Practices — what you do
- · Effects — what you experience
- · Frameworks — how you make sense of it
All content is reviewed by humans before publication. AI assists with drafting and citations; reviewers verify safety-critical data. Confidence tiers (A / B / C) signal evidence quality, not editorial certainty.
New here? The substance index is usually the right entry point. The Reading a substance page guide explains what every field means.
Acute harm unfolds in minutes to hours — overdose, panic, serotonin toxicity, dangerous overheating, cardiac events. Symptoms start the response — care does not wait on knowing what was taken.
- · Emergency protocols (Beacon) → symptom-driven response
- · Crisis hotlines → by region, by language
- · Naloxone & overdose response → for opioid emergencies
Sharing what was taken — including doses and timing — is more important than avoiding consequences. Most jurisdictions have Good Samaritan laws.