🤝 Crisis Support Resources
Organizations and services offering specialized support during and after difficult psychedelic experiences.
Fireside Project: Psychedelic Peer Support Line
The Fireside Project operates the Psychedelic Peer Support Line at 1-623-473-7433 (62-FIRESIDE). This is the primary dedicated psychedelic crisis support service in the United States.
- Hours: 7 days a week, 3 PM to 3 AM Pacific Time
- Cost: Free
- Confidential: Yes
- Who staffs it: Trained peer supporters with lived psychedelic experience and crisis counseling skills
- Who can call: Anyone having a difficult psychedelic experience, someone supporting a person in distress, or someone processing a difficult experience after the fact
- Also available: Text support at the same number
The Fireside Project distinguishes itself from general crisis lines by having staff who deeply understand psychedelic states and can meet callers where they are without pathologizing the experience. They can also advise on whether a situation warrants calling 911.
Zendo Project (MAPS Harm Reduction)
The Zendo Project is a harm reduction program developed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). It provides on-site psychological support at festivals and large events where psychedelic use occurs.
- Trained volunteers offer a calm, safe space for people having difficult experiences at events
- Staff are trained in psychedelic harm reduction using MAPS protocols
- Available at many major music festivals and psychedelic conferences in the US
- Website: zendoproject.org — includes event schedule and training information
- Training programs available for organizations wanting to create on-site harm reduction services
DanceSafe
DanceSafe (dancesafe.org) is a harm reduction nonprofit primarily focused on the electronic music and festival community. Their services include:
- On-site presence at festivals and events with trained harm reduction volunteers
- Drug testing services (reagent testing kits) for substance verification
- Educational materials on drug interactions, dosing, and safer use
- Advocacy for evidence-based drug policy
DanceSafe volunteers can help someone who is having a difficult experience at a festival find a safe, calm space and connect with further resources.
TripSit: Online Harm Reduction Chat
TripSit (tripsit.me) provides real-time online chat support for people experiencing difficult drug experiences or seeking harm reduction information. Services include:
- 24/7 live chat at tripsit.me staffed by trained harm reduction volunteers
- TripSit Factsheets: detailed pharmacology and interaction data for hundreds of substances
- Combo checker tool: interactive drug interaction checker
- Discord community with harm reduction channels
TripSit chat is particularly useful for real-time guidance during an experience, substance identification questions, and interaction checks. The volunteers are not emergency responders but are knowledgeable about harm reduction.
How to Access Crisis Support
Prepare before any session by saving these contacts in your phone:
- Fireside Project: Save as "Fireside" — 1-623-473-7433
- 988 Lifeline: Save as "Crisis Line" — 988
- 911: Emergency services
- TripSit: Bookmark tripsit.me on your phone
Also designate a trusted person who knows you are using the substance, can be reached by phone during the session, and knows to call the Fireside Project or 911 if they cannot reach you and are worried.
Supporting Someone Else in Crisis
If you are supporting someone else through a psychedelic crisis:
- Stay calm — your regulated state is contagious
- You can call Fireside Project on behalf of the person you are supporting
- Describe what you observe; the volunteer will guide you
- Know when to escalate to 911 (see First Aid and Emergency Procedures pages)
- Reach out for your own support afterward — witnessing someone's crisis is also taxing
Post-Crisis Integration Support
A difficult psychedelic experience can be disorienting and emotionally taxing even after the acute effects resolve. Integration support helps make sense of what happened:
- Psychedelic Support: psychedelic.support — directory of integration therapists and coaches
- MAPS Integration Network: maps.org — referrals to MAPS-trained therapists
- Integration circles: Community group sessions for sharing and processing experiences, often organized locally or online
- Fireside Project's support resources: Extended resources for post-experience integration
FAQ
What makes the Fireside Project different from regular crisis hotlines?
The Fireside Project (1-623-473-7433) is specifically designed for psychedelic experiences. Staff are trained in psychedelic harm reduction and many have personal experience with difficult psychedelic states. General crisis lines like 988 can help with suicidal ideation and emotional distress but may not understand the phenomenology of a difficult psychedelic experience. Fireside Project volunteers know how to meet someone in a psychedelic state — they speak the language, understand ego dissolution, and won't pathologize the experience.
Can the Fireside Project help with long-distance support?
Yes. You can call the Fireside Project from anywhere, and you can call on behalf of someone else who is in another location. They can guide you on what to do, assess severity, and advise whether local emergency services need to be involved. They cannot dispatch help themselves but can help you think through the situation clearly.
What does a Zendo Project session look like at a festival?
Zendo volunteers provide a calm, decorated tent space separate from the main festival environment. They use a four-principle model: a safe space, sitting rather than guiding, talking through rather than talking down, and the idea that difficult experiences can be transformative. Volunteers sit with people, provide grounding presence, water, and a calm environment, and stay with them until they are ready to re-engage. There is no cost to the person seeking help.
Is TripSit chat safe to use? Are they trained?
TripSit volunteers are community-trained harm reduction advocates rather than licensed professionals. They are generally knowledgeable and well-intentioned but should not be treated as a replacement for professional mental health crisis support. For substance information and mild distress, TripSit is a useful resource. For serious psychological or medical crises, use Fireside Project (1-623-473-7433) or 911.
What is integration and why does it matter after a difficult experience?
Integration is the process of making meaning from a psychedelic experience and incorporating any insights, emotions, or perceptions into daily life. After a particularly difficult or destabilizing experience, integration is especially important — unintegrated content can linger as anxiety, intrusive imagery, or confusion. Working with an integration therapist, attending community circles, or simply journaling regularly can help transform even a very difficult experience into something meaningful.
How do I find a psychedelic integration therapist?
The Psychedelic Support directory (psychedelic.support) is the largest directory of clinicians who specialize in psychedelic integration. MAPS maintains a list of MAPS-trained therapists. Psychology Today's therapist finder allows filtering by specialty — search for "psychedelic-assisted therapy" or "integration." Always verify credentials and ask about experience with psychedelic integration specifically before committing to a therapist.
What if I can't afford therapy after a difficult experience?
Integration doesn't require formal therapy. Peer integration circles (often free or low-cost) can provide community support. The Fireside Project offers follow-up support calls. Journaling, creative expression, and support from trusted friends who understand psychedelic experiences can all be valuable. Free resources including guided integration journaling prompts are available at maps.org and integration-focused online communities.
Are there crisis resources specifically for people under 18?
The 988 Lifeline and Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) serve all ages. For minors specifically, the Teen Line (1-800-852-8336) provides peer support for teenagers. If a minor is having a psychedelic experience and you are an adult present, calling 911 is appropriate if there is any safety concern, and being transparent with medical staff about what was taken is important for their safety.
How do I prepare for a session to minimize the chance of needing crisis support?
Preparation dramatically reduces the likelihood of a crisis. Key steps: choose a safe, comfortable, familiar environment; have a sober trip sitter present; know your dose and start conservatively; check for contraindicated medications; set an intention; prepare a playlist; have water and light snacks available; save crisis contacts before the session; and ensure someone outside the session knows you are using. Most crises are preventable with adequate preparation.
What happens after I contact the Fireside Project? What can I expect?
When you call or text 1-623-473-7433, a trained peer supporter will answer. They will listen to what you or the person you are supporting is experiencing, ask clarifying questions, and provide calm, grounded support tailored to the psychedelic context. They will not tell you what to do but will offer presence and perspective. If the situation appears to require emergency services, they will advise you to call 911 and may stay on the line while you do. Sessions typically last as long as needed — there is no time limit.