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- A HIGH DOSE 2-CB TRIP
-
- ...a note from underground by "Gracie and Zarkov"
-
- Copyright December 1984 by Gracie and Zarkov Productions. We believe
- that in a truly free society the price of packaged information would
- be driven down to the cost of reproduction and transmission. We,
- therefore, give blanket permission and encourage photocopy, quotation,
- reprint or entry into a database of all or part of our articles
- provided that the copier or quoter does not take credit for our
- statements.
-
- Number 2.
-
- Introduction
-
- We had planned to take approximately 30 mg of 2CB orally to experience
- full effects. However, unknown to us at the time, a systematic error
- in the scale raised the dose to almost 40 mg each. The 2CB was taken
- orally, encapsulated, on an empty stomach. First effects were
- noticeable in 15-20 minutes, with a steep climb to a peak at about one
- hour. The peak lasts about an hour, there is a plateau until hour 3,
- then a very precipitous return to nearly straight. There is a long,
- low-level tail to the trip; we were fully down after 6-8 hours total.
- Lonqer-term effects (mood changes) last 5-6 days.
-
- Setting
-
- Earlier that day, before the 2CB trip (which started about midnight),
- we had smoked some DMT. Zarkov did approximately 10-15 mg around 10
- AM; Gracie smoked about 30 mg at that time and the same amount again
- at noon. For Gracie, the DMT experience was somewhat frustrating and
- not very intense, it seemed blocked by neurotic or distracting modes
- of thought during the trip. Gracie had lingering gastrointestinal
- upset (psychosomatic?).
-
- 2CB Effects
-
- Initial effects began 20 minutes after ingestion. They included
- general arousal: piloerection, muscular hypertonus, the characteristic
- hallucinogenic amphetamine local "pump" of the pelvic area, nipple
- erection and facial flushing. While the "pumping-up" effects are less
- localized and less perceptually sexual then on MDA, they were similar
- in essence. The flush was much more pronounced than on MDA or MDMA,
- including itching of mucus membranes. This was followed by
- generalized chills and tremors similar to, but much more intense than,
- methamphetamine shakes.
-
- About 45 minutes into the trip, we drew a hot bath to warm up in,
- (very effective, but not recommended if you feel like you are about to
- pass out) using visual positioning of the water valves to set the
- temperature. From past experience, we knew the water must have been
- quite hot, yet in our shivering states the water felt only warm. Both
- of us were hallucinating and were becoming increasingly agitated.
-
- The peak effects could be roughly categorized under visual, emotional
- and somatic modes. However, these three modes were out of synch: the
- visual disturbances did not correlate to the emotional feelings, nor
- either of the former to somatic sensations. By concentrating
- attention on one of the modes, all three would moderate. This was
- especially noted by Zarkov, who was able to deal with the peak effect
- without losing it by focusing attention on a particular effect. For
- example, the overwhelming feeling of terror at the peak was unlike a
- DMT, LSD or Psilocybian mushroom trip where there is an apparent
- causal or precipitating incident, vision, encounter or meaningful
- train of thought (e.g. something is threatening one, or one encounters
- personal demons, etc.) 2CB terror had no discernible "cause". Upon
- self-reflection, no cause could be found. "Why am I terrorized?" was
- a question with no answer. This self-reflection produced a
- significant decrease in the feeling of terror. Zarkov remarked, "It
- was as if 2CB was a specific chemical agent exciting a 'terror
- circuit' in your brain to overload with no object, no insight and no
- cause." (This comment relates to the "lizard hypothesis" below).
-
- Visual Effects
-
- With open eyes, the hallucinations were very unpleasant (both
- aesthetically and emotionally ugly). Multiple outline images formed
- around objects or people and were made up of small angular geometric
- components. Colors were ugly blue-greens and oranges, not very
- bright, rather grey-toned. Unlike LSD "time-slicing" (our term) or
- "trails" (Stafford's term), the multiple images were incoherent;
- "trails" tend to leave a track like a meteor, 2CB multiimages were
- scattered around the object like dozens of TV ghosts. At points in
- the bathroom tile, edges of walls or window frames, ugly little
- geometric forms appeared to crawl out. Visuals became more intense
- and more ugly during the peak hour--they squirmed in an icky,
- disjointed fashion.
-
- With eyes closed, a myriad of jiggling forms with the same polyhedral
- geometric components bounced or squirmed around. The overall pattern
- was horizontal (wider than they were tall) and very disturbing to look
- at.
-
- The hallucinations obscured reality to a greater extent than anything
- but smoked DMT or high-dose mescaline (400+ mg). Facial distortions
- were subtle but noticeable by both of us - the facial changes were
- unpleasant.
-
- Somatic Effects
-
- For 30 minutes to 1 hour, 30 minutes we felt increasing nausea, GI
- cramps, the kind of symptoms Gracie associates with extreme anxiety,
- fear or anger. Chills and shakes appeared physiological rather then
- psychosomatic, since they went away with the hot bath. The somatic
- sensations were quite overwhelming, and like the terror described
- above, had no discernible cause except (speculating) limbic
- hyperarousal. Animal arousal continued throughout the trip,
- accompanied by tactile sensitivity, skin flushing and erectile tissue
- engorgement. However, neither of us found those effects erotic. Any
- level of activity -- bathing, removing contact lenses, crawling around
- -- reduced somatic effects. There was no appetite suppression, unlike
- methoxylated amphetamines.
-
- Emotional Effects
-
- The most unpleasant aspect of the trip: overwhelming feelings of fear,
- anger, pain, rage, demand; but lacking the usual human social or even
- mammalian associations or meanings. The emotions were strong and
- clearly felt, but are not well described in words. They were very raw
- and undirected, thrashing around in one's bodymind.
-
- Our present model for understanding this is based on the Leary-Wilson
- 8 circuits model, which seems to place such raging neurosomatic surges
- into the lowest (biosurvival) circuit. Metaphorically and
- phylogenetically speaking, it represents the lizard component of your
- bodymind -- the limbic system which controls and produces "fight,
- flight, feed or fuck" behavior (the 4 Fs). Think of an aroused
- alligator, thrashing snake or cranked-up dinosaur: powerful and
- active, but with a surging chemical or emotional drive more primitive
- and older than our monkey ways of behaving. Interestingly, the
- emotional effects were clearly related to some of the somatic effects
- in that concentrating on emotions relieved the body reactions. For
- example, Gracie found that the gastrointestinal cramps, nausea and
- unpleasant (to put it mildly!) feelings melted away when she focused
- on the emotional pain, rage, fear or desire -- crying, sobbing,
- wailing, howling or clinging all helped to alleviate the discomfort.
- As described above, focusing on one component of the trip made the
- others fade away. Physical activity would also relieve the physical
- and emotional distress, e.g. dancing, thrashing, crawling around.
-
- After the Peak
-
- Gracie remarked that the trip was like a Puccini opera -- lots of
- emotional manipulation but lacking in depth. We returned to our trip
- room and payed heavy metal rock (Blue Cheer) which helped greatly to
- restore our equilibrium. Gracie danced, growled, crawled around and
- raved about "barbarian hordes from the Id" (not a rock band). From
- then on, we both improved markedly, became euphoric and stayed
- aroused. The unpleasant body symptoms slowly faded.
-
- At about hour 3, Zarkov came down very quickly (over about 3 minutes)
- and Gracie followed shortly thereafter. We were left tired, but not
- particularly "strung out". At this time the hallucinations simply
- switched off.
-
- Lingering Effects
-
- We noted lingering effects for about 5 days: disturbed visual field
- with flashes and discontinuities; our mental states were excellent,
- bordering on low level euphoria. Zarkov noted, "I was cheerful,
- unflappable even though it was a difficult week at work. It felt
- great to be alive and embodied as a monkey." Vivid but confused
- dreams laden with emotional affect in realistic, even mundane settings
- occured for 2-3 nights after the trip.
-
- A final image - the Jurassic must have been quite a time! If our own
- experience reflects lizard-like programs, the dinosaurs become more
- comprehensible and more horrifying.
-
- Conclusion
-
- It is reported in the literature that 2CB can produce a very different
- trip (milder and more pleasant). We believe the quality of our trip
- to be highly dosage-related phenomenon -- the recommended
- "therapeutic" dose is 15-18 mg. 2CB might prove useful for those
- neurotic individuals so alienated from themselves that they cannot
- experience their own embodiment. Nevertheless, our experience, while
- short, was one of the most terrifying trips we have had. Therefore,
- we recommend caution in using 2CB, in fact, we do not particularly
- recommend it at all, especially for inexperienced users of
- hallucinagens who may find it effects too much, too soon.
-
- Stay high and stay free!
-
- Gracie and Zarkov
-
- Afterword
-
- To round out the information in our article above we have attached a
- 2CB "Fact Sheet" that has been prepared and is being distributed by
- advocates of the drug. While we would not violently disagree with the
- information, even though the "new age" therapist tone is cloying, we
- would suggest that this piece is more of an advertisement for the
- substance, rather then a dispassionate analysis. As such, it reminds
- us very much of the "fact sheets" that the salesmen for so called
- "ethical pharmaceutical" companies distribute to M.D.'s along with
- free samples of their products. Some of the euphemisms are quite
- striking. "Energy tremor" was in our more degenerate youth referred
- to as "speed shakes". "Physical Body-Load" is usually referred to in
- the pharmacological literature as either "physical side effects" or
- "onset of toxic side effects", etc.
-
- In a more general sense we find it unfortunate that fact sheets such
- as this one and the touting of substances by professional colleagues
- are often the only sources of information that a health professional
- uses in deciding whether or not to administer a psychoactive drug to a
- patient.
-
- Patients put their trust in the health professional as an "expert" --
- a person with both a breadth and depth of specialized knowledge.
- Before health professionals undertake to use psychoactive substances
- in their practice we would hope that four conditions hold:
-
- 1. The health professional has conducted extensive and intensive
- literature search on all areas of psychoactive drugs.
-
- 2. The health professional has personal direct experiences with a
- range of psychoactive substances: from low dose experiences through
- high dose to overdose levels (within physical safety). The substances
- should include LSD, Psilocybian Mushrooms, DMT, mescaline,
- Methamphetamine, MDA, MDM, and hopefully an Ayahuasca-like mixture.
-
- 3. Based on direct repeated experience with a range of substances and
- based on the knowledge of that patient, pick the right substance for
- that patient firmly believing that the particular substance is well
- matched to that particular patient's needs.
-
- 4. The health professional should not use a particular substance just
- because it is conveniently available or "in" that year.
-
- Unfortunately, it is rare to find a therapist where any of the above
- four conditions have been met and given the current legal situation
- and therapeutic practice, we doubt that these condition will be met.
- At the very least, we would hope that every ethical health
- professional experiences 2CB or any other psychoactive substance that
- they use in their practice at extreme high dosage levels before they
- subject their considerably more naive patients to the experience.
-
- We base these recammendations on 20 and 5 years experience
- (respectively) of usually weekly psychedelic experimentation. We are
- personally experienced with low to extremely high doses of all the
- substances cited above (as well as others) both alone and in
- combination. It has always been our practice to personally experience
- a psychoactive substance in the range of at least up to 2 to 3 times
- effective dose (limited only by toxicity) in order to fully judge the
- substance before recommending it to others.
-
- One Final Note
-
- Recreational use of 2CB has taken a peculiar twist. The method of
- administration is often to ingest a dose and then to immediately
- "snort" an equal second dose. Each dose has been in the range of
- 15-25 mg. This combination has acquired a certain cachet for "slam
- dancing" among Marin County punks. To say the the results are very
- intense and bizarre is an understatement!
-
- Stay high and stay free,
-
- Gracie and Zarkov
-
- =============================================================================
-
- General Information: 2C-B
-
- (Chemical Name: 4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine)
-
- 2C-B should be considcred for use in psychotherapy only under the
- following circumstances: (1) When the therapist has personally
- explored the use of the material, at the different levels described
- below, and has become familiar with its complexities, both physical
- and psychological; (2) When the patient or client has had considerable
- experience with MDMA or with other psychoactive chemicals previously.
- We can conceive of no circumstances under which the use of 2C-B might
- be justified without prior experience of at least MDMA. This applies
- to both therapist and patient.
-
- The information in this paper is addressed to the therapist who is
- considering possible use of 2C-B in his practice, and wishes to become
- familiar with the character of the 2C-B experience.
-
- The initial experiment should be at a dosage level of no more than 16
- mgs. If there is no apparent difficulty at this level, the next
- experiment can be 18 mgs. (There should be a minimum of one week
- between experiments.) Following this, one can take 20 mgs., and
- finally, 25 mgs. Please note: some people are found to be very
- sensitive to low levels of psychoactive materials. If there is any
- reason to suspect such sensitivity, start 2C-B at 12 mgs. instead of
- 16. For such people, 18 mgs. may be the eventual maximum level.
-
- At 16 mgs., the intensity of the experience should not be above what
- we call "museum level," which means that, at this dosage, one should
- find it possible to walk around a museum and enjoy the enhancement of
- color and an increased ability to interpret and become involved with
- the paintings and other forms of art. (It is not, however, advisable
- to visit a museum or any other place outside the home until you have a
- great deal of familiarity with the effects of 2C-B.) At 16 mgs. there
- will probably be an awareness of the so-called ╥energy tremor,╙
- which can be very disturbing to a person unfamiliar with other
- psychoactive materials, but should not produce anxiety in an
- experienced person. This energy surge may be felt most intensely
- during the onset (usually within 20 to30 minutes after ingestion) and
- may become less obvious by the time the plateau of the experience is
- reached (one to two hours after ingestion) and walking around may be
- quite comfortable. There are many people, however, who continue to be
- keenly aware of the energy tremor during the entire experience (usual
- duration, to baseline, about 5 hours minimum) and who may prefer to
- move around as little as possible. No one can anticipate the response
- of another person; each has to discover his or her own.
-
- At 18 mgs., the visual effects are stronger and the energy surge is
- also felt more strongly. The duration of the experiment may be a total
- of 6 hours or more. The variations in the length of time before return
- to baseline will be discussed later.
-
- 20 mgs. is yet again more intense. This is the maximum level at which
- 2C-B should be taken, even by experienced people, when it follows
- MDMA, which will be expanded upon later in this paper. Of course,
- there are exceptions to this rule, also. One therapist has found that
- he has no response to 2C-B at a level lower than 25 mgs., even after
- an earlier MDMA session, but this is exceptional. Another therapist
- has found that dosage over 12 mgs. is far more intense than desired,
- for himself; this, too, is exceptional.
-
- 25 mgs. might be considered, in general, the maximum level for patient
- use. Seasoned experimenters have used 2C-B at 30 mgs. without
- difficulty, but there seerns to be general agreement that, above this
- level, there tends to be an increase in the physical body-load -- such
- as energy tremor or perspiring -- without any corresponding increase
- in mental or psychological reward. (During early research with 2C-B,
- several years ago, one veteran researcher accidentally ingested 45
- mgs. and experienced considerable difficulty, both physically and
- psychologically, but without lasting ill-effects of any kind. The
- most lasting positive effect was a determination to avoid accidents in
- the future. Another person, experienced with psychoactive materials,
- obtained 2C-B and -- for reasons unknown -- took 60 mgs. The result
- was an experience remarkable for its dark and threatening aspects,
- unrelieved by either light or insight.)
-
- When using 2C-B for the first time, the duration of the experiment
- will probably be about 6 hours, but the time set aside for the
- experience should be considerably longer, for the following reasons.
- The chemical allows the opening of emotional and psychic doors which
- -- depending on the nature of the psychological contents released --
- might well choose to stay open longer than anticipated. Although
- there has been reference to a physical energy surge, there is, of
- course, a corresponding energy surge in the psyche and it has been the
- finding of several researchers that this aspect of the interior
- experience -- eyes-closed imagery, emotional disinhibition, insight
- into problems, among others -- tended to continue past the time when
- the chemical effects in the physical body could reasonably be expected
- to have ended. (This is more likely to happen at levels higher than
- the initial 16 mgs., but it has been known to happen at this level,
- and one cannot expect to predict such an event; it is better to allow
- the additional time, in advance.)
-
- The reverse has often happened, and is equally unpredictable. There
- are sessions during which an effort at problem-solving and emotional
- release has been apparently successful, usually involving considerable
- intensity of emotion and imagery, often touching on what might be
- called the archetypal level, and this has been followed by an earlier
- than usual descent to baseline on the part of the patient -- to the
- surprise of both patient and therapist. It is as if the psyche has
- recognized a completion of its project, and finds no reason to
- maintain the state further.
-
- In the ideal situation, as with MDMA, the therapist has taken the 2C-B
- along with his patient. In this case, an early descent to baseline
- might well be avoided, due to the patient's contact with the
- therapist╒s continued consciousness-alteration. However, this is
- also impossible to pretict. The desirability of such an extension, in
- this kind of situation, is open to question.
-
- A "good" 2C-B experience involves, for most people, some or all of the
- following. Eyes-open vlsual effects; objects moving, a rippling effect
- in walls or ceilings; intensification of color; familiar faces
- appearing in unfamiliar guises -- pleasant or unpleasant, depending
- perhaps upon the relationship between experimenter and the people
- perceived; familiar scenery assuming strange aspects (a large rock
- suddenly becomes a huge face, or a field of grass is a moving spread
- of green velvet, etc.). The intensity of such visual effects appears
- to diminish with repeated use of 2C-B, as if the psyche learns to
- screen out distractions. Eyes-closed fantasy and imagery are, to the
- best of our knowledge, common to all experiments, and do not
- particularly diminish with experience. As with MDMA, there is a
- general sense of being in control of one's actions, although at the
- higher levels one tends to avoid telephone conversations or other
- forms of interaction with people outside the experience.
-
- Under no circumstances, short of life-or-death emergencies, should
- anyone taking 2C-B attempt to drive a car or any other vehicle. The
- alteration in time-sense and space-perception makes any such
- undertaking extremely dangerous and irresponsible. No driving should
- be attempted after an experiment until baseline has been achieved and
- carefully tested. At night, the experimenter should be taken outside
- in the dark, and a flashlight beam directed at his face for a second.
- If after-images persist against the dark, driving should be postponed.
- He should be alerted to the impression of light-flashes at the
- periphery ot his vision, another indication that the eyes have not
- returned to normal. The pupil of the eye, which is usually enlarged
- during the experiment, should resume its usual size before he drives
- home. (In daytime, a dark room serves for eye tests.)
-
- If there is the slightest doubt as to the validity of baseline, or any
- hint of hesitation or unease on the part of the experimenter, as he
- prepares to return home, departure should be delayed, or a friend
- should be asked to drive for him. To avoid any such problems, it is
- best to do the experiment either in the patient's own home, or in a
- place where he may conveniently spend the night.
-
- Among the experiences associated with 2C-B are those involving what
- have been called cosmic and oceanic feelings and images. Often, there
- is some form of transformation, with emotions and imagery working
- together to present a new aspect of the patient's life and problems, a
- new way of understanding meanings, possible new ways of approaching
- old difficulties and habits of thought.
-
- Another aspect of the 2C-B experience, apparently common to all
- experimentcrs, is an intensification of the senses of touch, smell,
- taste; an increased response to color and sound. As with many
- psychoactive materials, there is a degree of anaesthesia which affects
- the pain-receptors in the skin, particularly. Pinching the inside of
- the knee, for instance, produces little discomfort, and care must be
- taken to warn a patient not to touch a heated object which would
- ordinarily cause him to withdraw his hand reflexively; under 2C-B,
- especially at highcr levels, he might not perceive the heat
- immediately and a burn coult result. Paradoxically, the perception of
- the faintest touch on the skin is heightened considerably, and
- physical discomfort or pain resulting from a broken bone or any kind
- of strain or imbalance in the body tends to be increased. Some people
- have reported the use of 2C-B as a diagnostic aid or ally, since it
- enables an increased perception of problems present in the body, when
- attention is turned in that direction. There is insufficient data, at
- present, on this potentially useful aspcct of 2C-B, and we hope that
- more will be available in time.
-
- Perceptions of imbalance -- either physical or emotional in kind --
- tend to take the forms of images often intense, colorful and in some
- cases, overwhelming to the patient. If the therapist is not taking
- the 2C-B with his patient, he will need well-educated antennae and a
- reservoir of emotional warmth to help his patient structure and
- assimilate and understand the experience.
-
- A note of caution. 2C-B does not encourage escape of any kind from
- either the body or the emotions. Among those energies intensified
- during the experience are the sexual drives and responses. A patient
- who has sexual blocks, fears of sexuality, or a tendency to act out
- sexually, may be severely threatened by the 2C-B experience. The
- therapist should be aware of the possibility that he may have to deal
- with acute anxiety and/or unexpected transference problems. Serious
- thought should be taken before giving 2C-B (or MDMA, for that matter)
- to a patient suspected of repressing homosexuality. Some of the
- tragically negative experiences of the 1960s, when indiscriminate and
- uneducated use of psychoactive materials occasionally resulted in
- psychotic episodes, might have been due to unexpected confrontations
- with previously unacknowledged homosexuality.
-
- Shoult the therapist wish to use 2C-B with his mate, however, it can
- indeed be one of life's richest experiences. While MDMA allows
- lovingness and warmth, but -- for most people -- tends to make orgasm
- difficult, 2C-B allows the fullest possible range of both emotional
- and physical expressions of love.
-
- Music played during a 2C-B session tends to be felt deeply, and may
- often help a patient to structure his experience and thus better
- manage the images and emotions which arise.
-
- An experienced therapist will, of course, avoid the use of any
- psychoactive chemical with a patient whose sense of Self (or "core"
- or"center") is weak and undeveloped. In certain unusual cases, the
- careful use of MDMA might be argued for, but 2C-B should be considered
- out of the question. This applies also in the case of chiltren and
- young people under 16. However, even in a strongly centered patient,
- there might be a tendency to go very deeply into a state similar to
- deep meditation, or out-of -body experience. The therapist should
- have experience in dealing with such a state, and if it occurs during
- a 2C-B session, care should be taken to keep the patient in contact by
- means of quiet, persistent questions and other appropriate ways of
- maintaining communication.
-
- 2C-B is most effective when taken on an empty stomach. There should
- be no solid food eaten within four hours before an experiment. During
- the session, liquids should be available to help in avoiding
- dehydration. Coffee very often becomes distasteful during the session,
- so fruit juices and mineral water should be on hand. There is no
- anorexia with 2C-B, for most patients, and food will be appreciated
- toward the end of the experiment. Soup and bread and fruit are
- usually welcome. Cheese -- all kinds including yellow cheese -- will
- give no problems. A glass of wine is appreciated by some people, when
- baseline is near.
-
- We strongly advise that 2C-B not be used if the patient has had any
- kind of psychoactive chemical within 4 to 5 days earlier. For reasons
- not well understood, psychoactive chemicals taken within a few days
- prior to a 2C-B session have sometimes resulted in a totally inactive
- 2C-B. Occasionally, without any apparent reason, 2C-B can be ingested
- with absolutely no resulting experience. In such an event, one can
- only search for psychological blocking, and renew the attempt at a
- later date.
-
- The single exception that we know of, at this time, to the above is
- MDMA. MDMA can be taken by the client immediately before 2C-B (that
- is, within the same day) without diluting the 2C-B effect.
-
- Some psychiatric pioneers are using MDMA followed by 2C-B in cases
- where breakthroughs in both insight and emotional release are sought.
- The conditions listed in the first paragraph of this paper should be
- noted.
-
- MDMA tends to allow a flow of insight, perhaps by removing the fear
- and defensiveness which blocks insight and self-acceptance.
- Generally, it is thought of as a"mind and heart" opener, which allows
- the patient to be in complete control and to make fully conscious
- decisions. The MDMA-assisted ability to accept and trust, together
- with the depth of peacefulness often experienced, sometimes leaves
- untouched the deeply buried negative emotions which the therapist
- might wish to see explored. With the later ingestion of 2C-B, such
- emotional blocks can be loosened, and valuable work done in the area
- of the patient's problems. Needless to say, this combination will
- result in a long and busy day for both patient and therapist, and the
- patient can be expected to experience some degree of tiredness the
- following day. If carefully managed, however, the results can be
- extremely significant for the patient.
-
- The procedure should be as follows: MDMA at the usual dosage level
- (generally 120 mgs. for an experienced patient), followed by 2C-B
- three hours or 3.5 hours later, at a dosage level of no higher than 20
- mgs. maximum. The combination produces an increase in the
- effectiveness and intensity of the 2C-B.
-
- NOTE: If a supplement of MDMA is taken (usually 40 mgs. at the 1.5
- hour point), the2C-B should not be ingested until 1.5 to 2 hours
- minimum after the supplement was given. The 2C-B can be taken as long
- as 5 hours after the intial dose of MDMA without losing any of its
- increased effectiveness.
-
- The therapist might consider asking the patient to spend time
- following a 2C-B experiment writing notes on his experience. It has
- been found that additional insights tend to result from this practice
- which may be of considerable value.
-
- An informal note -- a reminder -- to the therapist considering an
- experience of his own with this (or any other) psychoactive material.
- The earlier reference to"museum levels" of 2C-B shoult not encourage
- anyone to be casual in leaving the safety and familiarity of his own
- home or office while under the influence of such materials. Most
- people are fully aware of the usual problems which may confront them
- in the outside world, but often neglect a very serious concern. It is
- usually called "hitch-hiking,╙ and refers to a very real phenomenon
- known as a contact-high. When you are under the influence of a strong
- psychoactive material, or any chemical which allows the release of
- energy which is not usually that much consciously experienced, your
- presence in a room (museum) or a store (let's get something at
- Safeway) or a gathering of people who are not (and should not be)
- aware of your altered state, your energy-field (or whatever you wish
- to call it) can affect others around you in ways that they are not
- prepared for and cannot understand. Unconsciously, they will (some
- people, that is, who are more sensitive or open) feel themselves
- stimulated, perhaps uncomfortably. Some may react with hostility,
- some with anxiety, some with a great deal of attention to you. for
- reasons unknown to them. We know of one young man who did visit a
- muscum under the influence of 2C-B and was followed from room to room
- by a museum guard who had apparently translated his awareness of the
- exceptional energy field into suspicion of criminal intent on the part
- of our friend. It made the museum visit somewhat less than relaxing.
- In summary, it is not just out of caution that you should avoid visits
- to well-populated outside places -- caution for yourself, that is --
- but out of consideration for the peace of mind of strangers whose
- attention you might not need.
-
- June, 1984
-
- =============================================================================
-
- From: Alexander T. Shulgin
- Subject: 2C-B
-
- As to the 2C-B fact sheet, I contacted the person I suspected of
- of being the anonymous author and she has no objection to its
- going out on the net, but had this amendment: "There is a mention
- of the desirability of the therapist taking the 2C-B with the
- patient. This was common practice among psychedelic therapists
- in the early 80's, but at this time, I would say that it is
- not good practice, for two reasons: the therapist should be
- familiar enough with the altered state to be able to enter it
- along with the patient without the aid of the drug, but simply
- using the `contact high.' The second and major argument against
- the therapist's taking the drug is that, no matter how
- experienced and focused he is, inevitably some of his own private
- psychic and emotional stuff is going to leak through and demand
- his attention, which should be devoted entirely to the psyche of
- his patient."
-