💧 Is a ketamine crackdown on its way?

Welcome back to The Drop In! 

All of the press around Matthew Perry’s death has many people feeling a type of way. Coverage of celebrity drug fatalities is the worst. Mostly because drug misinformation often spikes in the wake of such highly publicized deaths, which is frustrating at best. At worst, it leads to knee-jerk reactions from the powers that be. There’s also this element of celebrityhood that strips famous people of their humanity, causing normies — reporters included — to talk about and treat them as if they’re non-sentient objects, or something. It’s unsettling to witness all of this transpire in the aftermath of Matthew Perry’s death.

The most egregious part of this whole saga is the Feds using his death to justify the targetted policing of ketamine clinics — or at least threatening to do so. We wrote about the DEA’s recent response to Matthew Perry’s death, you can read it below. 

If you’re looking to read something a bit more chipper, keep scrolling, and you’ll find beautifully written pieces on lessons we can learn from the Haight Ashbury scene, the benefits of animism, and why bioluminescent mushrooms glow.

Stay safe this weekend, friends, and test your drugs  🫶 ,

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

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Our Latest

Today, the spirit of the Summer of Love exists more symbolically than materially in Haight-Ashbury, with vintage shops that sell Grateful Dead T-shirts priced at $100, mass-produced tie-dye beach towels, and neon glass-blown bongs that serve as a cheap totem to groovier, simpler times. We interviewed a former member of the Grateful Dead, Stanley Mouse, and others who lived on Haight-Ashbury in 1968 to learn about the commodification and loss of a culture.

A new study suggests that psilocybin-assisted group therapy may significantly reduce HIV-related shame and improve mental health and lifestyle habits for people living with HIV. Conducted by researchers from UCSF and UAB, the study involved 12 HIV-positive participants and found that, on average, shame scores decreased by 5.5 points over a six-week period. The study highlights the potential of psilocybin in fostering "hyper-associative" thinking, which helps reduce self-focused attention and shame.

Five individuals, including a licensed physician and Hollywood's "Ketamine Queen", were arrested on August 15, 2024, in connection with the death of "Friends" actor Matthew Perry. Perry, who died in October 2023 from the "acute effects of ketamine," had a long history of substance use disorder. After deciding to pursue ketamine therapy, Perry turned to illegal sources when doctors refused to increase his dosage. Those involved, including Perry's personal assistant and a well-known ketamine dealer, face significant legal consequences.

& More Must-Reads

• Animism—seeing the spirit in everything—goes deeper than the psychedelic experience; and this distinction may be crucial for psychedelic healing work.

• CEOs and business leaders are doing psychedelics—and claiming their companies are better off for it.

• In the face of a deepening mental health crisis, more police officers and public servants are turning to psychedelics for relief and healing from work-related trauma.

Trip Tales

Have you had a profound experience with psychedelics before? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in The Drop In. Submit your entry here.

Learn with Us

🍄 Gold Cap Shrooms, also known as Psilocybe cubensis, are among the most popular magic mushrooms. Here’s what you need to know about it. 

👅 Some consider Jedi flipping fun and transcendent, but it can also be overwhelming and risky. Here are some harm reduction techniques if you're planning a flip.

🌟 You’re not tripping. Some mushrooms glow in the dark. Let’s journey into the weird science of bioluminescent shrooms. 

🍃 The natural source of cathinone—better known as bath salts—is an East African plant. Its story is a perplexing one, entangled in the War on Drugs and the War on Terror.

DoubleBlind Digs

Here are today’s recommendations to help you live more psychedelically… 

1. We’ve unlocked mushroom-powered wellness with Troop’s Super Pack! Get a month’s supply of Lion’s Mane, Super Troop, and Reishi gummies for sharp focus, lasting energy, and stress relief. Plus, enjoy fun freebies like a disco mushroom 🪩🍄, crystal mushroom, and a free month of the Open Meditation App. These vegan, organic gummies are your daily boost for better health and happiness—loved by thousands! Get your bundle here and save 20%.*

2. Interested in psychedelics and jazz? Check out OHMA's incredible album "On Loving Earth". It was recorded outside in the mountains on Zorthian Ranch, Altadena, straight to a vintage Nagra IV-S reel-to-reel tape machine. Joined by the birds and goats of the ranch, OHMA invites you to sink deeper into our loving Earth. Check out the album on Spotify.

3. We know we have many talented artists in the DB community. ICYMI, The 2024 North American Mycological Society Visual Arts Content is now open! They are accepting submissions for fungal-infused art until September 13, 2024. Click here to learn about the rules, prizes, and submit your work.

4. You’re invited to breathe with us this September 🌬️Breathwork provides a profound, natural method to regain control and inner calm. By harnessing the power of breath, we can ease the tension and find clarity in moments of chaos. Join our upcoming members-only breathwork session with the esteemed Ellen Wong on September 24, where she will lead us through techniques to reduce anxiety and cultivate a deep sense of tranquility. This session is free when you sign up for a 1-month trial to DoubleBlind+.

*We may make a commission from purchases made using this link. At DoubleBlind, we partner with select companies to help fund our independent journalism.

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From the Magazine

Goodbye, Nai Nai

In this moving essay in DoubleBlind Issue No. 11, Michelle Lhooq takes us on a deeply personal journey as she grapples with the imminent loss of her grandmother, nai nai. Through her eyes, we witness the struggle to bridge the emotional distance with a woman she barely knew, despite their shared heritage and history. As Michelle returns to Singapore to be by nai nai's side, she contends with the complexities of generational trauma, the elusive nature of family stories, and the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye. 

This piece is a tender exploration of life, death, and the connections that define us. Get Issue No. 11 to read it in print.

Tune In

Deep Dive with Alex Grey & Allyson Grey: Psychedelic Art, Cognitive Liberty, and Spiritual Practices

What does it mean to advocate for cognitive liberty? How can someone integrate art into the psychedelic experience? And how has the psychedelic movement evolved over the years? 

We discuss all of this, and then some, with visionary artists Alex Grey and Allyson Grey on The DoubleBlind Magic Hour.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, Youtube, and more.