Disclaimer
This site is for harm-reduction and educational purposes only. It is not medical, legal, or professional advice, and is not a substitute for consulting a qualified professional. Drug use carries serious risks, including death; nothing here encourages or condones illegal drug use. Information may be incomplete or out of date — use it at your own risk. Intended for adults (18+).
Educational Purpose
This course exists to provide accurate, mechanism-based information about how drugs act on the body and brain. The goal is harm reduction: people who have access to accurate information make safer decisions than people who don't.
Nothing in this course constitutes encouragement to use illegal substances, nor does it constitute encouragement to engage in any illegal activity. The legal status of every substance discussed varies by jurisdiction and is not covered here.
Not Medical or Professional Advice
This site does not provide medical, legal, psychological, or any other professional advice. The content describes pharmacological mechanisms at an introductory level and is not a substitute for consultation with a doctor, pharmacist, lawyer, or other qualified professional.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, please seek help from a qualified healthcare provider. SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7: 1-800-662-4357.
Accuracy and Completeness
While significant effort has been made to ensure accuracy and cite primary sources, this is an introduction course — mechanisms are described at a level that makes them understandable rather than complete, and some nuance has been omitted by design. Information in the biomedical sciences is updated continuously; some content may be out of date.
Dose information is not provided. Drug safety claims are relative and population-level — individual risk varies substantially based on genetics, health status, drug interactions, adulterants, and other factors that cannot be assessed by a website.
Always test your drugs. Adulterants and misrepresented substances are a leading driver of overdose deaths. DanceSafe sells reagent test kits that can identify common adulterants before use.
No Liability
The creator of this course accepts no liability for any harm arising from the use or misuse of information presented here. Use this site at your own risk.
Age Restriction
This site is intended for adults aged 18 and older.
Last reviewed: May 2026. For corrections, contact via the About page.