How to Contribute
Psilobase is a collaborative educational resource focused on psilocybin harm reduction. We welcome contributions from researchers, educators, harm reduction advocates, and informed community members. Contributions can take several forms:
- Content writing — new guides, species profiles, safety articles, or research summaries
- Fact-checking — reviewing existing content for accuracy against current literature
- Error reporting — flagging outdated, inaccurate, or misleading information
- Translation — helping expand harm reduction information to non-English audiences
- Technical review — verifying dosage data, pharmacology details, and interaction information
All contributions are reviewed before publication. We prioritise accuracy, safety, and accessibility over speed of publication.
Content Contribution Guidelines
Scope and Subject Matter
Psilobase covers psilocybin-containing fungi, harm reduction practices, microdosing, cultivation, scientific research, and related legal and therapeutic contexts. Contributions should fall within these areas. We do not publish content that promotes recreational misuse, encourages illegal activity, or sensationalises psychedelic experiences.
Writing Standards
- Use clear, plain language accessible to a general adult audience
- Avoid jargon where possible; define technical terms when they are necessary
- Write in British or American English consistently throughout a single article
- Structure content with descriptive headings (H2/H3) so readers can scan quickly
- Keep sentences concise; aim for one idea per paragraph
- Cite sources inline or at the end of the article using a consistent format
Sourcing Requirements
All factual claims must be supported by verifiable sources. Acceptable source types, in order of preference:
- Peer-reviewed scientific literature (PubMed, PsycINFO, etc.)
- Clinical trial registries and published protocols
- Reports from established harm reduction organisations (DanceSafe, Zendo Project, MAPS, etc.)
- Official government or health authority guidance
- Reputable journalistic sources for legal or policy context
Do not cite personal anecdote, forum posts, or social media as primary evidence for safety or pharmacology claims.
Fact-Checking Requirements
Accuracy is the highest priority for Psilobase content. Before submitting or approving content, contributors must verify:
- Dosage figures — cross-check against at least two independent sources; note the source and date of the data
- Drug interactions — verify against current pharmacological literature; flag any interactions with SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, or other medications known to carry serious risk
- Species identification — use authoritative mycological sources (Stamets, Index Fungorum, peer-reviewed taxonomy); never rely solely on visual identification guides
- Legal status — confirm jurisdiction and date; laws change frequently and vary by country, state, and municipality
- Research claims — distinguish between preliminary findings, replicated research, and established consensus; do not overstate what the evidence shows
If you cannot verify a claim, remove it or mark it explicitly as unverified pending review.
Harm Reduction Standards
All content on Psilobase must align with established harm reduction principles. These are non-negotiable editorial standards:
- Non-judgmental tone — content must not shame, stigmatise, or morally judge people who use psychedelics
- Risk transparency — genuine risks (psychological, physiological, legal) must be presented clearly alongside potential benefits; do not downplay or omit risks
- Contraindication disclosure — any article discussing use must reference relevant contraindications: personal or family history of psychosis, current medications, cardiac conditions, pregnancy, and so on
- Set and setting — content discussing experiences should address the importance of mindset, environment, and trusted support
- Emergency guidance — articles on dosage or experiences must link to or include guidance on what to do in a crisis (see the Safety section)
- No promotion of dangerous practices — content must not encourage combining psilocybin with substances known to carry serious interaction risks without clearly explaining those risks
Content that fails these standards will not be published, regardless of the quality of writing or sourcing.
How to Report Errors
If you find inaccurate, outdated, or misleading information on Psilobase, please report it. Error reports are treated as high-priority contributions.
What to Include in an Error Report
- The URL of the page containing the error
- A clear description of what is incorrect and why
- A reference to the correct information (link to a source if possible)
- Your name or alias if you would like to be credited for the correction
Where to Send Reports
Use the Contact page to submit error reports. Reports go directly to the editorial team and are typically reviewed within 7 days. Critical safety errors (e.g., incorrect dosage or dangerous interaction information) are prioritised and addressed as quickly as possible.
Credit and Attribution Policy
Author Credit
Contributors who write original content for Psilobase are credited by name (or alias, if preferred) at the bottom of the article they wrote or substantially revised. Credits appear in the form "Written by [Name]" or "Revised by [Name], [Month Year]".
Fact-Checker Credit
Significant fact-checking contributions are credited as "Fact-checked by [Name]" alongside the author credit. Routine corrections may be acknowledged in the Contributors page rather than on individual articles.
Anonymous Contributions
Contributors who prefer to remain anonymous may request that their name not appear on published content. Anonymous contributions are still reviewed and credited internally for record-keeping purposes.
Third-Party Content
If you contribute content that incorporates or adapts material from other sources, you must clearly identify those sources and confirm that use is permitted under the applicable licence (e.g., Creative Commons) or constitutes fair use for educational purposes. Psilobase does not publish content that infringes copyright.
Licence
Original content contributed to Psilobase is published under an educational, non-commercial use licence. Contributors retain moral rights to their work but grant Psilobase the right to publish, adapt, and update the content in order to maintain accuracy over time.
Getting Started
If you would like to contribute, the best first step is to review existing content in your area of expertise and submit an error report or suggested improvement through the Contact page. This helps you understand our editorial standards before committing to a larger piece of writing.
We appreciate every contribution, large or small. Accurate harm reduction information has real-world consequences, and contributors to Psilobase help make that information available to people who need it.