BARBELITH underground
 

Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.


Underground > Laboratory >

Useful Drugs

  
 
Lionheart
09:21 / 01.04.04
So what are the useful drugs out there? I mean, I know of neutropics but I'm also looking for specific info on what drugs do what?

Basically I'm creating this thread for discussion of using drugs as tools to achieve specific effect(s).

I'll start it off.....

Caffeine

Probably the most popular drug in the modern Western world nowadays. A stimulant which is used to stay awake for longer periods of time than usual. Also increases activity (hyperactivity.)

Sugar

Stimulant. Increases hyperactivity. Gives slight bursts in energy. Probably used by more people than caffeine.

Alcohol

A relaxant? Used to calm the nerves and stuff.

Mate

From what I hear it's basically a stimulant simular to caffeine but without the crash at the end.

Ephedra

Stimulant. Envokes slight feelings of euphoria consistant with taking large amounts of caffeine. Brings on energy. Kills appetite.

***

Okay, so basically this is just a plain base for the thread. Please add on as much info as you like. Notice how I only mentioned legal drugs. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't mention illegal drugs. It's just that I'm mentioning what I've taken in the past 3 months. Please add whatever info you have.
 
 
lekvar
10:15 / 01.04.04
Psilocybin
Good for allowing human brains to experience 5th demensional stimuli.

Does Sleep Deprivation count? It has to be my favorite for stimulating the creative mind. Legend has it Edison was big on the sleep dep too.

(on a related note, one of my crank-case friends insists that the U.S. Gov invented a drug that allos the user to stay awake for 36 hrs with no ill effects. Anyone else heared this? Sounds like BS to me, but what a joyous thing if it were true.)
 
 
Jub
10:47 / 01.04.04
I'm a big believer in Valium (or Diazepam) - I find it relaxing in a way cannabis can't. There's no paranoia for one thing! It manages to detach you quite nicely such that you're happy to be detached while experiencing the world around you. Vaguely unreal feeling (but not unpleasant).

Lionheart - more of these at The Vaults of Erowid
 
 
Cheap. Easy. Cruel.
12:07 / 01.04.04
MDMA (Ecstacy) was first used in the late 70's as a therapy drug for couples with intimacy problems. Some Psychotherapists have described it as "a years worth of therapy in six hours". It allows couples to experience a feeling of closeness that carries over after the high wears off. One of the problems is the Dopamine depletion afterwards, it can cause an intense depression.

In 1984, the DEA issued an emergency ban on it because it was becoming a "problem" (too many people were having too much fun). In 1986, when the ban reached its end, there were court hearings to see if it needed to be a Schedule 1 drug. Many therapists and counseling professionals showed up to attest to the efficacy of the drug. The civil judge in the case issued a ruling that he could find no reason to declare it illegal. The DEA took it upon themselves to overrule the judge, making it illegal. Ecstacy was the first drug that did not require an act of Congress to outlaw.
 
 
Thjatsi
14:48 / 02.04.04
One of my crank-case friends insists that the U.S. Gov invented a drug that allows the user to stay awake for 36 hrs with no ill effects.

That would be modafinil, which has a separate thread devoted to it here. I've begun looking for articles on this drug, since it's my oral's project for graduate school.
 
 
telyn
23:01 / 02.04.04
The vaults of Erowid are amazing. So much information...

It's so acceptable in this [western] culture to self-medicate it's almost invisible, and people do it without even realising. The coffee in the morning and the cigarettes when you're stressed, the glass of wine or drink at night. Sometimes I think the drug is less important than the ritual. That cigarette break during work gets you 5 - 6 minutes of peace where no one can ask you to do anything because you are outside with a fag in your hand. I'm jealous, dammit.
 
 
Char Aina
10:44 / 04.04.04
a friend fo mine asked, nay demanded 'sitting dwon for a bit' breaks when he and i worked in a coffee shop together.

he, quite rightly in my opinion, felt that smokers were getting more time off than he was, and so he fixed that. he sat on his ass for fifteen minutes at the end of each lunch break, reading his paper. if he was needed before his time was up, he would returmn to his paper or book for whatever he had missed as soon as it was quiet.

i like to think he was partly protesting, partly taking what he was owed.

he now owns his own shop.




sugar is the most interesting of the drugs mentioned so far to me, but only because it is so ever-present and nearly invisible. most people dont realise that they are dosing with sugar as far as i've noticed, and even those who cut sugars from their diet end up letting a few in unwittingly.

it reminds me of when i went veggie; i was astounded at the variety of foods that contain animal products. see XXXtra-strong mints containing bits of cow.
 
 
solomon
21:56 / 12.04.04
oh goody! my feild of expertise!
sleep dep is actually my favorite altered state for inducing general silliness, delerium, and fits of giggles. onsets once you reach state of "overtired" where you no longer feel drowsy, but are beyond tired. good fun, safe cheap!
salvia divinorum, or diviners sage, is the most powerful halucinogen i've encountered. comprable to DMT and legal. rather than halucinations i think this plant actually induces spontaneous seperations between the physical and astral body. get the extract. you can order this stuff from an ad in the back of fortean times. do some research first and don't play around, not really a recreational thing.
 
 
grant
13:55 / 13.04.04
Mate, by the way, is a plant. Caffeine is a chemical, which is named for the fact that it's found in coffee, but it's also found in mate. Mate also contains a few other things that lift the spirits and clear the mind. The first sip, when taken the traditional way, tastes like lawn clippings. The second sip is much better. The third is heavenly.

Here's a site on how to drink the stuff.

This chemical analysis maintains that mate doesn't contain caffeine, but a very similar chemical called "matein". Erowid, however, says that: Some sources cite "mateine" as the active chemical in yerba mate, but we have determined all of these references to be bogus or fraudulent.

They also go on to explain:
One of the errors in the literature talking about "mateine" is the claim that it is a stereoisomer of caffeine. This stands out because, as any organic chemist can easily tell you, there is no stereoisomer of caffeine. The caffeine molecule lacks a stereocenter and thus there are no rotational isomers at all. This error, repeated widely, shows the people writing the texts know little about chemistry and the rest of their information about this theoretical chemical must be considered suspect.

There is no stereoisomer of caffeine. It's that simple.
 
 
The Prince of All Lies
21:38 / 13.04.04
I don't know, I'm not a big mate drinker, but I never felt anything...it's like sipping really hot water plus grass..and not the "special" grass..
 
 
Scanner Vainly
22:13 / 13.04.04
I would assert that caffeine is on its way to losing its kick for a lot of us. We're pumping a lot of caffeine-saturated water into lakes and shores, in part because water treatment doesn't include caffeine removal. So there are probably increasing levels of caffeine in places we wouldn't usuall expect, maybe even the tap, but certainly in fish.

There are all sorts of harbor fish in metropolitain areas that have been brought up by environmental monitoring crews and found to be in neural/muscular shock from an excess of stimulants in the water. Us humans are a little more resilient in the chemical accumulation department, but doesn't this mean caffeine resistance isn't too far off on the horizon? Then again, I'm sure it won't be hard to make another mild stimulant ubiquitous in the developed world.
 
 
morning Dew
01:35 / 14.04.04
hmmm my experience with anything is most familiar with alchohol, cannabis, l s d, and psilocybin.
alchohol is seen by me as a road to jolliness, lack of normal rational judgement, intensified emotional attachments, and a good (for me atleast) social bonding tool, of course for those with violent tendencies it is a serious problem. The amount of pabst blue ribbon that passed through these veins is enormous.
Pot has had 1001 effects on me ranging from mystical qualities to temporary stupidity to goofiness to headaches to paranoia to heightened sense perceptions, etc.
I think environmental stimuli is the strongest factor. I smoked in the woods recently and it was the greatest high in months.

I don't even know where to start with psychedelics like acid and shrooms because it is so individual oriented, i think basically it is correlated to how you feel about life. If you are astonished and enchanted by existence as it is, this is what you have been waiting for. Temporary, but a glimpse into the nature of the human being and purpose of the universe. There is nothing less than literal in this.. timelessness, visions, love, (also, i dont really hallucinate from it)

im willing to elaborate further on any of this
 
 
eye landed
05:53 / 20.04.04
Cannabis alters the rate of experience of time. This changes considerably the process of cognizing stimuli. I find my symbolization of networks much enhanced--that is, a complex system can be understood through a metaphorical image, anthropomorphic or otherwise. It is a myth-making state. It also makes the user less aware of their surroundings. I use this effect to stave off hunger or tiredness, but it can also be used to induce the same. Whatever you intend to do seems to become easier.

MDA increases the rate of the flow of spiritual energy in and out of the body. This makes it easier to achieve magickal effects. Combined with cannabis, it helps the user to detect psychic imprints, and systemize patterns.

MDMA also increases energy flow, but particularly between humans (and perhaps other animals). It allows the user to ignore socially constructed barriers that impede communication (these barriers were created for a good reason, but they can get in the way under different circumstances). Combined with cannabis, it is useful for symbolizing actual groups of people (i.e. not creeds but crowds).

LSD is in some ways like a stronger cannabis: it helps you see patterns you couldn't see before. It does this on a very fundamental level, even visually, as well as musically.
 
 
Whale... Whale... Fish!
17:10 / 20.04.04
MDMA
Use: Essay writing. Got my best philosophy mark on an essay on John Stuart Mill done under the influence. Helped me stay awake and stay focused. Time passed quickly although I got a bit lonely once Sttab fell asleep as I kina wanted to chat shit.

cannabis
Use: Falling asleep and controlling a comedown, as well as encouraging eating.
 
 
Gyan
18:38 / 22.04.04
Some of the various indole psychedelics are mind-openers. These include LSD,({5-MeO-}{N,N-}) DMT among others. The merging of sensory qualia and thought and a glimpse of their nature is all that's needed to free yourself.

For me, pot doesn't even compare.
 
 
Mister Snee
16:15 / 23.04.04
I definitely find that MDMA makes magic much, much easier. While on a good roll the energies of the universe feel immediately accessible, and I can tangibly channel energy into and out of myself with ease. On MDMA I've launched sigils and invoked god-thingies and meditated and it all worked great. Every magically-oriented person I know agrees that MDMA feels overwhelmingly facilitative to working magic. For me it seems to temporarily disable my lingering cynic/skeptic faculties, which otherwise get in the way of my uncynical, unskeptical magickying.

And of course all psychedelics are great. Don't get me started on psychedelics!

[audience laughter]
 
 
mother
20:02 / 23.04.04
Modafinil is pretty fabulous at first. I don't know what the people on the other thread are talking about with this "really just an amphetamine" business, though. It isn't, chemically or subjectively, similar to amphetamines in any but the most superficial, it-keeps-you-up way. It just makes you feel like a better you. Your spirits are lifted, you aren't hungry as often (I often had to work to remember to eat when I took it regularly, else I'd just forget), and you aren't nearly as tired. I never got 4 days out of it; hell, I never even stayed up all night with it, but I did find myself looking at the clock and being surprised it was 4 in the morning and I wasn't asleep. The best way I can explain it is this: it doesn't give you anything, like energy or euphoria, it only takes away the drive to sleep, and, to a lesser extent, to eat.

That's how it is at first. Then it just sort of goes away with time. The effects become less and less pronounced. The stuff's not habit-forming, so you don't find yourself craving more, and there aren't any withdrawals if you quit. It's just as well too, because it's insanely expensive. A bottle of thirty 200mg tablets, which lasted me a month, costs about $200 in my neck of the woods. That was the main reason I stopped taking it; I simply couldn't justify continuing to spend so much on medicine I didn't really need.

A side note: In America, Modafinil is Schedule IV, which means it's considered very safe and unlikely to be abused, and it can be prescribed at your doctor's discretion for off-label uses. So if you'd really like to try it, it shouldn't be hard at all to get your doc to prescribe you some. Just be prepared for the price, because unless you're narcoleptic, your insurance won't cover it.
 
 
Lionheart
08:22 / 24.04.04
Oh, since you've already mentioned Erowid I'll also mention Lycaeum...

http://www.lycaeum.org/

I don't really have any new information to post up here but I would like to mention that "ephedra" is now illegal to buy in the United States (of America.)
 
 
mother
22:43 / 15.05.04
Neurontin, or Gabapentin, is an interesting substance. It is prescribed for the prevention of seizures, for nerve pain, and for some mood disorders. I think of it as one of the first in the category of subtle, all-around feel-good drugs that will eventually be used as casually as caffeine and sugar are today. But hey, don't quote me on that; I get crazy ideas sometimes.

I just got my first job, as a fragrance rep, and it's got me nervous as hell. While I am, in many cases, hella smooth in my interactions with people, I'm also often extremely uncomfortable during said interactions. The point of this little story is, I swiped some of my dear mother's Neurontin, which she takes to help her sleep, before I went to work. (I told her I took some later; she didn't mind a bit.) I also took a 200 mg tablet of Modafinil, in case the Neurontin made me drowsy. It's just as well, because it turned out I quite mistaken regarding the average daily dose; I took 2400 mg, while the average dose is actually 900 to 1800 mg.

Everything turned out fine, though, due perhaps to the Modafinil in conjunction to my cursèd naturally high tolerance to nearly every drug I've ever encountered. I was relaxed, confident, and (if I may say so myself) damn smooth all day long. I enjoyed myself so much that work began to feel almost like a game.

I've got an appointment with my delightful Kopfdoktor later this month. She's an incredibly energetic, chain-smoking old woman, and very pill-friendly to boot. I think I may try to get a prescription of my very own; we'll see how it goes.
 
 
Gendudehashadenough
02:43 / 28.05.04
Harmine/Harmaline(sp?):

Used as an MAO-I inhibitor, and is most commonly used in Ayahuasca (Yage). It is most often taken with some other type of drug such as DMT, LSD, psilocibin in order to greatly enhance the experience by inhibiting the monoxidise (or something like that) enzymes which normally break down some of the tryptamines that are ingested. It should be noted, however, that while it can be taken alone, a psychedelic experience will be induced only near a fatal dose and for this reason is is combined with many other drugs, which can be found in the indigenous regions of S. America and Southeast Asia.

When taken alone, it creates a slight feeling of ephoria, nasuea, and body lody, quite the opposite of a lsd (so i've heard) and shrooms, as both of these produce feelings of uncontrolable energy when taken. Mckenna talks at length about it's ability to intereact with neural DNA, but that's a lot of speculation about ESR (electron spin resonance) and how tryptamines change the structure of the synapsese in the brain. Basically, it's used to enhance any psychedelic which you happen to be one at the time. Can be smoked, insufflated, ingested and possibly injected.

Danger: Can be very hazerdous if taken with certain types of perscription drugs, watch out of MAO-I warning lables.
 
 
Our Lady Has Left the Building
09:26 / 28.05.04
What are some good things to use to counteract the bad effects of some of the things we've discussed here? Obviously water + time for alcohol is an example, but if you're trying to use caffeine or sugar for their short term energy buzzes, what are the best ways to counteract/minimise the crashes?
 
 
luke hugh
23:00 / 30.05.04
I think we are all forgeting the most essential drug of all my crack cocain. Where would I be but a pile of mush without my precious crack in the morning, during my crack break at work, or just hanging waiting for the bus with a nose full of cocain. Am I right or am I right. We've all been there. I can't believe sugar made the "cut" before crack.
 
 
Our Lady Has Left the Building
10:31 / 01.06.04
Sorry. George Bush told me 'only losers take drugs'.
 
 
Freakuency
09:57 / 03.06.04
Some relevant bits from 'Cosmic Trigger' by Robert Anton Wilson. Im trying to make a re-cap of what is said, so it's more of a cut-up of quotes.
Basically he is talking about biochemical imprints in the brain (tunnel-realities), which can be "specifially triggered by neuro-transmitters and other drugs."
These 'brain circuits' are split into two categories:the Terrestrial brain circuits and the Evolving Future Brains.

-Terrestrial Brains:
I.The Bio-survival circuit (or Consciousness)
"The imprinting of this circuit sets up the basic attitude of trust or suspicion which will last for life."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Opiates(cellular intelligence,bio survival passivity,newborn consciousness)

II.The Emotional Circuit (or Ego)
"Identifies the stimuli which will automatically trigger dominant,aggressive behaviour or submissiveness."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Alcohol(territorial patterns,mamalian emotional politics)

III.The Dexterity-Symbolism Cicuit (or Mind)
"If the environment is stimulating to the third cicuit,the child takes a 'bright' imprint and becomes dextrous and articulate;if the environment is made of stupid people,the child takes a 'dumb' imprint."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Coffee,Tea,Speed,High-protein diet,Cocaine.

IV.The Socio-Sexual Circuit (or Adult personality)
"Experiences imprint a characteristic sex-role which is biochemically bonded and remains constant for life, unless some form of brain-washing or chemical re-imprint is accomplished."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Not yet Synthesized,but is generated by the glands after pubescense.



-Evolving Future Brains

V.The Neurosomatic Circuit
"Gestalts shift,in McLuhan's terms,from linear Visual Space to all-encompassing sensory space.I turned this circuit on with pot and Tantra.More recntly,Ornstein and his school have demonstrated with electroencephalograms that this circuit represents the first jump from the linear left lobe of the brain to the analogical right lobe."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Cannabis

VI.The NeuroElectric Circuit
"The sixth brain consists of the nervous system becoming aware of itself apart from imprinted gravitational reality-maps(circuits I-IV) and even apart from body rapture (circuit V).High velocity,multiple choice,relativity and the fission-fusion of all perception into parallel science-fiction universes or alternate possibilities.I turned this circuit on with Peyote,LSD and Crowleys 'magick' metaprograms."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Mescaline,Psilocybin although no specific sixth crcuit drug is available.

VII.The Neurogenetic circuit
"The seventh brain.The first to achieve this mutation spoke of 'memories of past lives', 'reincarnation', 'immortality' etc."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:LSD (Peyote and Psilocybin produce some circuit VII experiences also)

VIII.The Neuroatomic circuit
"Consciousness probably precedes the biological unit or DNA tape-loop.Out of body experiences,astral projections,contact with alien(extraterrestrial?)entities or a galactic Overmind etc. Dr.Leary suggests that circuit VIII is literally neuro-atomic-infra,supra and meta-physiological-a quantum mechanical communication system which does not require a biological container."
Neurotransmitter/drug trigger:Ketamine("a neuro-chemical researched by Dr.John Lilly which is also given to astronauts to prepare them for space") and high doese of LSD.

Hope this is of some use, although I'm guessing 'Cosmic Trigger' and Leary's 'Seven Tongues of God' are mostly familiar to you.
 
 
Henningjohnathan
18:15 / 03.06.04
I haven't seen (or I overlooked) any references to Peyote (Mescaline, Peyotyl, etc.). I got the famous Le Barre THE PEYOTE CULT yesterday and I've known people who spent part of the 60's involved with the ritual use of the drug.

I've also had pure LSD recommended to me, but I've been warned that it is now nigh-impossible to find pure, trustworthy LSD. You're more likely to get PCP or LSD mixed with speed.
 
  
Add Your Reply