A bad reaction
A bad reaction: you feel ill, dizzy, sick or anxious; that is also known as a bad trip. Sometimes a person is also confused. Those unpleasant feelings can sometimes last for days, but there is no lasting damage.
What you do for someone else
If things get out of hand for someone else, find a quiet place and stay with him. Reassure him: it will pass. Ask whether he has also used alcohol or other drugs, and call first aid or 112 if he gets more and more anxious or panics despite your help.
How long it lasts
When smoking, the worst is usually over after an hour; with an edible form it can last longer. You cannot die from hash or weed alone. That is a reassuring thought, for yourself and for the person you are helping.
Fainting and something sweet
If someone is about to faint, lay them on the ground with their feet slightly raised, so that the blood flows to the rest of the body. If someone is responsive and can swallow, give them something sweet to drink or eat. A trained first aider can help in more ways.
Getting help is always fine
You can always get help. Using drugs itself is not a criminal offence in the Netherlands, so someone who is in a bad way faces no legal consequences for it. So do not wait too long to call if things are not going well.
Sitting out a bad trip
A bad trip is something you sit out. During a bad trip it helps to find a quiet place, to have someone with you, to talk about pleasant things and to reassure yourself: this feeling will pass. If an anxious feeling lingers after a bad trip, it usually disappears on its own.
Sources
You have read this chapter.
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