Responsible drug use (Wikipedia)

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source: Responsible drug use^Wiki

Responsible drug use maximizes the benefits and reduces the risk of negative impact psychoactive drugs cause on the lives of the user. For illegal psychoactive drugs that are not diverted prescription controlled substances, some critics[1][2] believe that illegal recreational use is inherently irresponsible, due to the unpredictable and unmonitored strength and purity of the drugs and the risks of addiction, infection, and other side effects.

Nevertheless, harm-reduction advocates claim that the user can be responsible by employing the same general principles applicable to the use of alcohol: avoiding hazardous situations, excessive doses, and hazardous combinations of drugs; avoiding injection; and not using drugs at the same time as activities that may be unsafe without a sober state.[3] Drug use can be thought of as an activity that is potentially beneficial but also risky, analogous to skiing, skydiving, surfing, or mountain climbing, the risks of which can be minimized by using caution and common sense. These advocates also point out that government action (or inaction) makes responsible drug use more difficult, such as by making drugs of known purity and strength unavailable.

Principles:

Duncan and Gold argue that to use controlled and other drugs responsibly, a person must adhere to a list of principles. They and others argue that drug users ought to proceed by:

• understanding and educating oneself on the effects, risks, side effects and legal status of the drug they are taking
• measuring accurate dosages, and take other precautions to reduce the risk of overdose when taking drugs where an overdose is possible
• taking a small dose first when taking a new drug ("start low and go slow")
• if possible, chemically testing all drugs before use to determine their purity and strength
• attempting to gain the most pure and high-quality drugs laced with no cutting agent at best such as by buying on darknet markets
• using drugs only in relaxed and responsible social situations as altered consciousness can be inappropriate in potentially dangerous or unknown settings
• avoiding driving, operating heavy machinery, or otherwise situate themselves directly or indirectly responsible for the safety or care of another person while intoxicated and discouraging persons from operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated
• having a trip sitter (or "copilot") when taking hallucinogenic drugs
• using recreational drugs in moderation, setting reasonable limits on the consumption and not allowing drug use to overshadow other aspects of their life (i.e. financial and social responsibilities)
• taking the smallest dose of a recreational drug that will produce the desired effects
• avoiding mixing or combining drugs, especially unknown drugs and drugs with known dangerous interactions
• not trusting someone else with the responsibility for your health and safety
• knowing basic first-aid techniques and taking responsibility for applying them appropriately in cases of drug emergencies
• avoiding the injection of drugs
• recognizing that one's own drug-taking behavior and attitudes in the presence of others will influence others, especially children
• abstaining from drug use when inappropriate for reasons of health and physical fitness such as during pregnancy
• respecting an individual's decision concerning drug use
• providing alternatives of acceptable social-recreational behaviors within a group for others and avoiding drug use to become the only motivation or focus of the social situation
• understanding the individuality of response
• being aware of the complex influences of set and setting on psychoactive drug experiences and acting accordingly
• never tricking or trying to persuade anyone to use a drug
• being morally conscious of the source of the drugs that a person is using

see the complete entry at Wiki