Erowid Center

1. DrugsData Lab Drug Checking -- Erowid runs a laboratory drug checking program that analyzes samples of psychoactive drugs, including: novel psychoactive substances; psychedelics; stimulants and euphoric stimulants; research chemicals; street heroin, fentanyl and other opioids; as well as commercial and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Samples are tested at a DEA-licensed laboratory and the results are published on DrugsData.org. Our DrugsData project also collects, manages, reviews, and presents laboratory-testing results from other US and international organizations. This information is published to help harm-reduction efforts, medical personnel, researchers, and the public. In 2022, 2,509 samples were tested through this project (800 more than in 2021) and 252 unique substances were detected. These results were published alongside 703 samples tested by other organizations. An average of 30,000 result pages were viewed per day, with an average 10,000 unique visitors per day. Results were regularly published to Erowid's more than 135,000 social media followers. In 2022, Erowid increased its partnerships with research groups doing lab validation of on-site analytical tools such as compact FTIR and fentanyl test strips. A portion of the expenses and revenue associated with this project are included in the Drug Trend & Novel Psychoactive Substance and Research program services.

3. Archiving of Historical Documents -- Erowid Center's mission includes collecting, organizing, and preserving resources about psychoactives for the historical record. In 2022, Erowid's primary document archiving project was the Shulgin Collection. Erowid made great progress in digitizing Alexander and Ann Shulgin's personal papers, audio recordings, and documents. Erowid also organized, identified, and created metadata for digitized files. Erowid Center maintains a physical space designed to allow processing of historical archive collections (organizing, scanning, photographing, and digitizing) as well as permanent storage of some library archives/collections.

2. Public Online Information Services -- Erowid Center develops, maintains, and provides free access to an online collection of more than 96,000 documents, images, and other media files related to psychoactive plants and drugs. The collection contains information, essays and articles authored by a broad spectrum of contributors including health care professionals, substance abuse counselors, toxicologists, chemists, therapists, law enforcement agents, lawyers, anthropologists, experiential experts, writers, media, educators, and the general public. Note that Erowid's Experience Reports project is tracked as a separate program service. Erowid also shared information via social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

4. Drug Trend & Novel Psychoactive Substance Tracking -- Tracking new psychoactive medicines, technologies, research chemicals, and novel psychoactive substances (NPS) is one of Erowid Center's areas of expertise. With the objective of educating the public on the risks and benefits associated with emerging drugs, we 1) monitor the availability, use patterns, and effects of these substances through consultation with volunteers, allied organizations, medical professionals, submissions, and online forums; 2) analyze psychoactive chemicals through our DrugsData program (tracked as a separate project); 3) coordinate between experts and researchers in the field; 4) educate writers and authors for media, news, and books; and 5) publish information about these substances, online and in print. In 2022, Erowid's DrugsData encountered 77 unidentifiable novel substances in submitted samples. With the help of a network of international experts, we were able to identify 52 of these. Erowid worked with multiple groups to monitor the contents of street 'heroin'/down/dope/fentanyl as well as cocaine and methamphetamine. Erowid helped identify and characterize contaminants, synthesis byproducts, and novel substances. Erowid leveraged its expertise to help develop systems designed to mitigate the societal damage of the "opioid epidemic".

5. Research, Surveys, & Research Improvement -- In 2022, Erowid co-authored 1 peer-reviewed journal article. We also worked on multiple scientific/medical research projects as part of the Lab Validation subproject of our DrugsData program. Erowid improves scientific, medical, and sociological information about psychoactive substances and those who use them by promoting participation in studies and surveys produced by academics, educational institutions, and related organizations. Erowid works directly with scientists-in areas where we have specialized knowledge-to help design credible studies and provide editing, reviewing, and fact-checking for resulting academic publications. Erowid Center's resources are referenced in hundreds of journal articles, books, and media articles each year

6. Experience Reports Collection -- Erowid Center solicited, reviewed, and published first-hand reports of people's experiences with psychoactive plants, drugs, and technologies. Erowid's Experience Reports generated information about novel and classic psychoactive materials as well as aggregate data about why and how people use psychoactives, both for current factual documentation and for the historical record. Researchers, academics, medical professionals, and the public use the results for educational purposes and as data for peer-reviewed articles and publications. Reports are reviewed and edited before being published. Trained volunteers perform a portion of the work under the supervision of Erowid staff. In 2022, Erowid crew completed 4,977 "triages" (reading and rating an experience report), review-edited for publication 1,145, and published 1,003, ending the year with 41,640 published reports in the collection covering 880 substances. Approximately 20 million experience reports were viewed during the year.

7. Education and Educational Materials, Books, and Gifts -- Erowid provided direct education services by answering online questions from the public via email, social media, and other communication systems. Erowid maintains a social media presence via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn through which we publish new information, drug checking results, news and research updates, and answer questions related to psychoactives. We distribute books, handouts, and teaching materials about psychoactive drugs, plants, practices, and technologies to members and the general public, furthering our educational mission.

8. Events & Conferences -- Erowid conducts educational outreach in person and online at conferences, seminars, festivals, and meetings. In 2022, we had monthly technical meetings with research partners monitoring street drug contents and contaminants as part of our DrugsData project. We attended three events and one meeting related to Shulgin archiving, the collection of a pioneering couple in the world of psychedelics.

9. Information Network - EEN -- Erowid Center works with a network of both professionally trained and self-taught experts with knowledge about psychoactive plants, chemicals, and technologies. Erowid Expert Network (EEN) members volunteer to share their expertise for the purpose of educating the public and improving the quality of information about this topic. The EEN facilitates making connections between those who are seeking information and experts who can help them. This furthers Erowid Center's mission by helping to improve both internal and external educational resources through increased fact checking and review.

10. Erowid Extracts Educational Newsletter - Erowid Center continued to collect information for a future newsletter issue centered on public drug checking and our DrugsData laboratory drug checking program (program expenses tracked separately). This advertisement-free print publication is distributed to members when published and past issues are distributed for free at conferences we attend. A complete digital version and constituent articles are later published online for free access by the general public. More than 10,000 copies of previous issues of Erowid Extracts were viewed/downloaded in 2022, and thousands of people read individual articles from previous issues online. Back issues were also distributed worldwide for free to related organizations, members, and events.