MAPS Canada School of Psychedelics

Talk abstract

Around the world, youth and young adults engage in substance use for various reasons, including experimentation, socialization, performance enhancement, and to care for their wellbeing. This population includes post-secondary students; in the post-secondary environment, researchers have found that young adults are more likely to increase their substance use and their role in supplying substances. Post-secondary environments also house cutting-edge technology that can be used to identify ingredients in unregulated substances, preventing harm from unexpected contaminants and adulterants amidst the evolving drug supply. In this talk, Lauren will discuss the background and context of the student-run harm reduction team she co-founded and coordinated. She will share about engagement with the student community, including how students are using classroom knowledge to enhance their psychedelic journeys. Additionally, she will highlight what was shared by participants in an implementation science study of the harm reduction team’s on-campus drug checking service including how decision makers, service providers, and students navigated tensions in this political environment.