PsyCare UK offers hydration and colouring books to people who have overdone psychedelic drugs – but hardline government policies are making this kind of harm reduction service harder to provide
It’s midnight on a Saturday at a recent electronic music festival in England and a young man has collapsed dancing under the bamboozling influence of a cocktail of drugs. Medics are quickly on the scene and take him to the side of the stage, and as he comes around he reveals he has taken large doses of LSD and ketamine.
PsyCare UK, a charity staffed mostly by volunteers trained to de-escalate psychedelic crises, or so-called bad trips, are called to assist. Two of its “tripsitters” rush to the aid of Harry (not his real name), who is in his early 20s, intending to cajole him back to a cosy bell tent where the charity provides one-on-one support, colouring books and rehydration salts.
