Some tips for helping someone who is on a bad trip include avoiding judgment, establishing which drugs they took, and monitoring their vital signs.
There is no exact medical definition for a “bad trip.” However, people often use this term to refer to unpleasant or frightening experiences during hallucinogenic drug use.
This article offers tips for helping someone who is on a bad trip. It also discusses when someone needs to consult a doctor.
Avoid judgment and remain calm
Some individuals may feel uncomfortable or angry with others for using hallucinogenic drugs. While a person may be feeling this way for many valid reasons, such as concern for the other individual’s health, they need to avoid expressing judgment.
Instead, they can try remaining calm and empathetic while someone is actively tripping. The person who is tripping may then feel more comfortable talking about what may be causing feelings of anxiety and other negative emotions. The individual who is not tripping may then be able to better support them and ease any negative emotions.
Read about what it feels like to be on acid.
Establish which drugs the person took
Some examples of hallucinogenic substances include:
- psilocybin-containing mushrooms
- lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
- 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)
- ketamine
- N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- phencyclidine (PCP)
- peyote
- ayahuasca
Establishing which drugs someone took can help in the event that they need medical attention. If emergency responders know what someone has taken, they may be able to provide appropriate treatment more quickly.
Monitor vital signs
Monitoring a person’s vital signs can be useful for establishing whether they need medical attention or if their life may be in danger.
Some vital signs that might be useful to monitor include a person’s pulse, body temperature, and respiration rate.
The exact signs of overdose can vary depending on the substance someone has taken. However, if their pulse is particularly fast or slow, their temperature is unusually hot or cold, or their breathing is slow or labored, individuals need to call 911.
In addition to the signs above, severe overdose may cause the following:
- confusion and disorientation
- dizziness
- nausea and vomiting
- headache
- lethargy
- convulsions
- seizures
- coma
- death due to respiratory arrest, which is when someone stops breathing for a prolonged time
People should always call 911 if they suspect someone is experiencing a drug overdose.
Stay with the person
A person needs to ensure they stay with the individual who is having a bad trip. This means that they will be able to continue monitoring the individual’s vital signs and providing calmness and support.
They need to continue to let the person on a bad trip know that they are there and that anything unpleasant they are seeing is temporary and not real. People should aim to be soothing and calm toward the individual having a bad trip, even if they are not feeling calm themselves.
Have productive conversations after the trip
While someone is having a bad trip, they might not be able to fully engage with a person who wants to discuss concerns about their overall health or drug use.
A person needs to allow plenty of time for the effects of any drugs to wear off before speaking with an individual about their drug use.
Someone may want to confront the person who had a bad trip about their drug use, particularly if this was irresponsible. For example, these instances might include the individual taking drugs in an unsafe environment or while neglecting important responsibilities such as taking care of children or going to work.
When discussing this, people need to aim to keep the conversation productive by focusing on their major concerns and how a person’s behavior may have caused harm to themselves or others. Before having this conversation, it may be useful to research the specific drugs they were taking.
In some cases, individuals may need to reach out for professional support.
When to speak with a doctor
Irresponsible drug use, such as using drugs instead of attending to social or professional responsibilities, may be a sign someone is experiencing substance use disorder (SUD). Other signs to look out for include:
- experiencing strong cravings or urges to use a substance
- being unable to limit or control substance use
- continuing to use the substance despite the negative consequences
- using the substance in unsafe settings
- experiencing drug tolerance or withdrawal symptoms
If a person thinks someone may be experiencing an SUD, they need to contact a healthcare professional.
Help is available
Seeking help for addiction may feel daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support.
If you believe that you or someone close to you is showing signs of addiction, you can contact the following organizations for immediate help and advice:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-4357 (TTY: 800-487-4889)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Summary
Tips for helping someone who is on a bad trip include remaining calm, establishing which drugs they took, and monitoring their vital signs.
A person needs to call 911 immediately if they think someone may be experiencing a drug overdose.
If a person has concerns about someone’s substance use and thinks they may have a substance use disorder (SUD), they need to reach out to a healthcare professional for further support.
