Three decades after its creation, Erowid remains one of the most comprehensive and unconventional databases on psychoactive substances. What began in 1995 as a small, experimental website built by two young graduates has evolved into a vital resource for scientists, doctors, and policymakers around the world. Today, its archives are used by thousands every day, offering rare insights into human interaction with drugs ranging from caffeine to LSD.
- Founded: 1995 by Earth and Fire (pseudonyms)
- Trip reports: Over 45,000 in the “Experience Vault”
- Visitors: More than 16 million per year by 2014
- Citations: Over 5,000 on Google Scholar
Table of Contents:
- The creation of Earth and Fire in Florida
- The growth of the Experience Vault
- From counterculture to scientific reference
- The legacy of psychedelic data and cultural change
The creation of Earth and Fire in Florida
Erowid was founded by two graduates of New College of Florida, known only by their pseudonyms Earth and Fire. In 1995, the internet was still in its infancy, and reliable information about psychoactive substances was almost impossible to find. The founders noticed a large information gap: no trusted central repository existed for accurate data on psychoactive drugs.
At that time, public hostility toward psychedelics was intense. It was just over a decade after U.S. President Ronald Reagan expanded the “war on drugs.” Research into substances like LSD and psilocybin had nearly disappeared due to strict regulations. Psychedelic studies were mainly pursued by a small countercultural group of “psychonauts,” who explored consciousness on their own terms.
Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), recalls that “Erowid was this computer literate, web-literate group that wanted to mine the enormous amount of information that was being gathered in the underground about old drugs and new drugs that had just been invented.”
According to Doblin, the project was revolutionary and courageous, creating a public digital space for drug data that had never existed before. Writer Erik Davis adds that the website “used digital technology and the early internet to create a space for something that didn’t exist before – and the space itself changed psychedelic culture dramatically.”
The growth of the Experience Vault
Within ten years, Erowid transformed from a small niche site into a global hub. In 2000, daily visits reached thousands. By 2005, page views had surpassed 100,000 per day. The “Experience Vault,” with more than 45,000 personal trip reports, became Erowid’s core.
Titles such as “The Weekend At The Edge Of The Universe” and “Tripping Alone on 1.5 Grams From Hell” captured users’ intense, often surreal encounters with substances like LSD, DMT, or PCP. These reports, while anecdotal, became essential for understanding human reactions to both legal and illegal drugs.
David Luke, associate professor at the University of Greenwich, explained, “People publishing their personal experiences and experimenting outside of the legal and academic bubble has led to the science, in many ways.” Erowid provided data when traditional research was almost impossible.
Each report is carefully reviewed by trained volunteers before publication. This process, unusual for online platforms, gives Erowid’s database a higher level of reliability. Researchers cite this editorial control as one reason the site is used in academic and medical studies.
From counterculture to scientific reference
Erowid’s influence extended beyond internet subcultures. By 2014, the website was visited by over 16 million people annually. It had been cited in peer-reviewed journals, official government documents, and reports by global organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The UK government and the House of Lords have referenced Erowid’s materials on methoxetamine, zopiclone, and even the psychoactive properties of nutmeg. Nicolas Langlitz, professor of anthropology at The New School for Social Research in New York, noted, “Erowid serves as a substitute for scientific research.” Emergency workers and doctors have used the site to identify new synthetic drugs and guide treatments for intoxicated patients.
Government agencies also monitor Erowid to detect new drug trends. The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse and the UK Home Office both track its data streams to anticipate the emergence of new psychoactive compounds.
The legacy of psychedelic data and cultural change
Over time, Erowid’s meticulous record-keeping helped shift public perception of psychedelics. Erik Davis describes the site as representing “the spirit of a devoted data nerd, a librarian with a love of dry, organised, clear information.” Its archives encouraged a culture of harm reduction and transparency in a field once dominated by secrecy.
Rick Doblin highlights that the courage of Earth and Fire helped destigmatise psychedelic science at a time of fear and suspicion. Their work laid the groundwork for today’s $3 billion psychedelic research industry, which now investigates therapeutic uses of substances like MDMA, ketamine, and DMT for treating depression and PTSD.
Leor Roseman, senior lecturer at Exeter University, emphasises that “medicalisation” made psychedelics a mainstream discussion topic rather than a taboo. Yet he acknowledges that “before this medicalisation could occur, Erowid was the beginning of the fringe having a voice.”
Erowid’s archives remain a living record of human experience and scientific curiosity. Thirty years on, the project still grows, providing raw, unfiltered data that connects underground experimentation with academic inquiry. From a hobby project to a global knowledge base, Erowid continues to illuminate how humans explore, document, and understand the chemistry of consciousness.
Source: BBC