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Talk to scientists and advocates in the psychedelics space and they’ll tell you we’re living in a golden era of research – a so-called renaissance following the decades-long prohibition catalyzed by Richard Nixon’s war on drugs.
In recent years, there’s been a cascade of studies and clinical trials seeking to understand the effects of substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and others, as well as their potential to treat mental health ailments like addiction, depression and anxiety.
But for all the research being done, it can be difficult for the layperson to digest the results. That’s why a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit is launching a new informational hotline as a resource for the psychedelic curious.
Since its founding in 2018, Unlimited Sciences has been conducting naturalistic studies and surveys about how people use psychedelics outside of a lab setting. The organization has partnered with Johns Hopkins University, the University of California San Francisco and other institutions on its initiatives.
When individuals call its psychedelic hotline at 888-210-3553, they talk with a person who provides evidence-based information gleaned not only from the organization’s own studies but also from those being done around the world, Unlimited Sciences said.
The goal is to be a scientific aggregator that’s tailored for and accessible to people outside the scientific community, said Matt Lowe, executive director and chief scientific officer of Unlimited Sciences.
“These articles tend to be based for people in the field, they can be medicalized, they can be difficult to pass, they can have a lot of terminology the average person isn’t familiar with,” Lowe said. “The primary purpose of this resource is really to provide answers to those who are seeking them and are unable to find them in the very convoluted landscape of psychedelic information.”
The hotline is an extension of the work done by Unlimited Sciences’ sister organization Realm of Caring, which focuses on cannabis research, advocacy and education. Realm of Caring has its own hotline that people can call to ask questions about medical marijuana and whether it’s suitable for their conditions.
Research into cannabis and psychedelics has historically been limited since they are Schedule I substances according to federal law. Both Realm of Caring and Unlimited Sciences aim to fill the informational gap by studying their real-world use and implications.
Adapting the hotline concept to psychedelics couldn’t come at a more critical time, said Lowe, as both public interest and research in the field continue to grow.
Almost two-thirds (61%) of registered voters support legalizing psychedelic therapy, according to a 2023 poll by the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. Nearly half (49%) of participants supported removing criminal penalties for personal use and possession.
Decriminalization is already a reality in Colorado, meaning locals can use certain substances without being arrested. However, doing so safely requires knowledge of the perceived benefits and risks, said Lynn Marie Morski, Unlimited Sciences’ director of education.
“It is just a sea of information out there — some good, some anecdotal, some completely made up. We don’t want people to ask AI a question and have it perhaps make up an answer. We want them to have answers from the research,” she said. “The average person doesn’t have all day long to verify the source. We have taken that burden from them.”
The hotline aims to dovetail with existing harm reduction services by educating individuals on concepts like set and setting, dosage, and the risks of consumption, Morski added.
“We know there are resources out there, such as Fireside Project, that provide peer support for post-psychedelic care, but there are not resources available for pre-psychedelic information. That’s what we’re trying to add,” Lowe said.
The Wana Brands Foundation, which was established in 2022, funded the call center with a $112,500 donation. The $50 million foundation was created by Nancy Whiteman, the CEO of Boulder-based Wana Brands, which is one of the country’s largest sellers of cannabis edibles. The initiative helps advance its mission to improve outcomes for people suffering from mental health challenges and substance abuse, said Karla Rodriguez, vice president of human resources and corporate social responsibility for Wana Brands.
How it works
The toll-free hotline number (1-888-210-3553) connects callers directly with staff “navigators” at Unlimited Sciences who first offer a disclaimer about the service.
It is not a source for medical or legal advice, Lowe and Morski said, and it is not a place to solicit substances. Additionally, the hotline is not designed to support those experiencing a crisis while under the influence, though navigators can refer people to emergency services or organizations that specialize in crisis intervention.
Once those bases are covered, callers can ask questions about psychedelics and navigators will scour their research databases to provide answers.
Callers will be asked to provide contact and demographic information, though disclosure is optional, Lowe said, noting that details are kept confidential. That information may include a caller’s age, their substances of interest, the reasons they’re using psychedelics, experience level and previous outcomes. Unlimited Sciences is also interested in location information to track legalization efforts, among other data points. Contact information will be used primarily in cases that warrant a follow-up.
“All of this is completely optional,” Lowe reiterated.
Those who complete a client registration with Unlimited Sciences receive login information to the website where they can access additional guides and resources for safe psychedelics use. The organization also maintains a robust blog that’s accessible to the public for free, sans registration.
The call center operates Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST. For more information, visit unlimitedsciences.org/psychedelic-info-line/.
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