This is incredible news!!! We’re finally gonna train first responders and cops to manage mental health and psychedelic complications in safe and informed ways using empathy, support, and deescalation. That’s what they’re taught at least (not sure how many cops will be empathetic with someone on drugs who’s acting abnormal. Hopefully they’ll get it and put it into practice. This is a major step for harm reduction and is wonderful to see Denver begin this…this may well become the model for how to respond to mental health crisis 911 calls and make things safer not more dangerous.

MAPS reports that a diverse team of over twenty experts spanning various fields including law, medicine, psychiatry, mental health, neuropsychopharmacology, law enforcement, crisis response, quality improvement, and education dedicated three years to crafting the curriculum. The training regimen encompasses video tutorials and corresponding assessments focusing on the historical context, usage, and potential psychological and physiological impacts of psilocybin and other psychedelics, according to MAPS. Emergency responders will also receive education on the legal considerations and ramifications of psychedelic decriminalization, along with best practices for harm reduction in psychedelic-related emergencies.

Sara Gael, MAPS harm reduction officer, expresses confidence that this program will furnish first responders with the requisite knowledge and skills to manage psilocybin and psychedelic-related crises in a safe and empathetic manner, ultimately enhancing community health and well-being. She lauds Denver's progressive and forward-thinking leadership for spearheading the decriminalization of psilocybin and serving as a model for other municipalities to emulate.

Hotlines and Resources: ** For emergency use this…The Psychedelic Support Line provides emotional support during and after psychedelic experiences. Contact: Call or text 62-FIRESIDE.**

https://firesideproject.org

Education about psychedelics to be proactive and properly informed and can unlearn the tons of misinformation about psychedelics.

Psychedelic info line: 1-888-210-3553

I can’t express enough how important it is that everyone shares this with everyone you know (those who use and don’t use psychedelics).