Man Who Tried 157 Drugs Says Worst One Was A Common Baking Ingredient

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Despite the alarming statistic of 106,699 reported drug-involved overdoses in the US in 2021, people persist in their use of substances.

Numerous individuals acknowledge the significant risks associated with drug consumption, yet thousands continue to engage in such behavior.

In an effort to save lives and diminish the high number of overdoses reported in 2021, author Dominic Trott has crafted what he deems the ultimate 'guide' to drug use.

A multitude of drugs, ranging from legal to illegal or milder alternatives, are consumed by millions worldwide.

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Common substances such as alcohol and medication typically come with clear usage instructions, emphasizing not just usage but also safety precautions.

However, drugs lack similar guidelines to instruct users on appropriate dosage.

While the illegal status of many substances might contribute to the absence of official guidance, the potential for legal consequences does not deter individuals from drug use.

Dominic Trott, a 64-year-old author, enters the scene with a unique perspective.

Recognizing the persistent use of drugs, he advocates for providing users with information aimed at minimizing harm rather than attempting to halt their usage altogether.

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Trott, having spent the last decade experimenting with 182 different drugs, ranging from marijuana to ecstasy, mushrooms to LSD, ketamine to nutmeg (yes, the spice), seeks to share his experiences and insights.

Trott wrote a big book called "The Drug User's Bible" where he explained how much of each drug he took, how he took them, and what happened when he did. The book was published in October.

“Education saves lives,” Trott told UNILAD following the publication of his book. “I felt that the government should have really written something like this.” 

“They should provide this information; it should be taught somehow through the system to people who are going to take drugs or might take drugs. And it isn’t.”

“And, you know… I thought, I really have got to do this. And I've got to do this, because nobody else is doing it.”

The Drug User's Bible

In his younger years, Trott wasn't heavily involved with drugs, having only tried some substances like cannabis and LSD during his time at university in Liverpool.

However, it wasn't until his late 40s that he delved deeper into the world of drugs. 

His interest was initially sparked by a concern for humanitarian issues, particularly after meeting individuals wrongfully imprisoned for drug offenses.

As he became more active in online forums, Trott noticed that some members seemed to disappear due to challenges related to their drug use.

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“There was always some reason something behind their deaths or health issues, there was a mistake or error, lack of information, lack of clarity, like of basic procedure and self care, really,” Trott explained.

While researching, Trott heard about a powerful psychedelic that was said to be best experienced with a shaman in the Amazon. He went to Peru to try it and realized that a simple list of his experiences wasn't enough to convey the impact.

"I could publish the spreadsheet, but it will just be lost. Or I could embark on this 10 year mission,” he said. So that’s what he did.

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To avoid legal issues, Trott strategically traveled to places where obtaining drugs was less challenging.

He established a schedule and rotation for various drug categories like stimulants, psychedelics, and sedatives to mitigate the risk of addiction.

Additionally, Trott extensively researched dosages for each new experience, relying on forums and online sources to gather information.

In his book, Trott provides dosage suggestions for each of the 182 drugs, emphasizing that individual tolerance varies.

He urges readers to test substances to confirm their authenticity and conduct an 'allergy test' before larger doses, emphasizing that it's easier to take more than reduce the dosage.

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Trott acknowledges that he wasn't always precise in measuring doses, admitting to occasional challenges.

Despite aiming for a 'reasonably strong' dose to observe effects, there were instances where he took 'far too much,' such as with heroin and the prescription drug pregabalin, leading to negative experiences.

His most unpleasant encounter was with nutmeg, a spice with deliriant properties. Trott first encountered it in a book about legal highs in his early 20s and decided to try it, marking it as his worst experience.

“It was an awful, terrible experience,” Trott said. “I did it about eight o’clock, and I was really disappointed because I thought ‘I'm gonna get high tonight’.”

The Drug User's Bible

“It takes about three hours to take effect. Nobody tells us that… And so I went to bed. About two or three o'clock in the morning, I woke up and my head was spinning and I was dizzy and I needed to go to the loo.”

"So I got out of bed, I couldn't stand up. And I'm literally crawling.. I remember pulling my hands up and seeing glue coming out.”

"I sort of got there and I couldn't urinate, then I managed to get back, the floors were tipping, and it was not in a nice way.

The next day I still had a headache. My stomach was sore, I couldn't go into work on Monday, I was ill for a week. It’s a poison.”

Trott had a tough time with nutmeg, and this experience taught him a lot.

It influenced the part of his book about deliriums, where he talks about feeling like your experience is falling apart and getting put back together the wrong way.

“The sensory organs are just not working correctly, and they're coming back together in the wrong way and your perception of what's around is totally wrong,” he explained.

“And you end up in serious trouble. If you survive the drug, you're probably going to be maimed or psychologically damaged for some time.”

The tough experience with nutmeg made Trott avoid taking drugs for a long time. It also made him hesitant to try another deliriant, datura, when he was writing his book.

However, hearing about kids on forums talking about taking it, he felt he "had to try it" to truly understand and discuss its effects.

“That's why I had to have some of the drugs that I really didn't want to, and datura was one of them. Because it was a deliriant and I'd been so badly burned with nutmeg… One of the problems with datura is that one seed can be seven times more powerful than the next.”

"Now in terms of dosages, you can imagine the nightmare that is. You can have seven really powerful seeds, which is sort of equivalent of 49 weak ones, which is potentially going to kill you at that level.”

“I had to have every drug I could that was in popular use, simply because if the police or the government say don't do that, you know, it doesn't have any carry any weight.”

“But if someone who’s actually had 182 drugs is saying, ‘No, you don't really want to do that. But if you do want to do it, do that’, there's a chance they might listen,” he said.

In his book, Trott doesn't just focus on facts and figures. He includes humorous experiences and dedicates sections to practical advice like 'how to handle yourself in the real world,' legal guidance, and information on drug tourism.

Above all, Trott emphasizes that he has been completely honest in sharing his experiences. Reflecting on his decade of research, he believes the drugs haven't had a lasting impact on his body, but they have certainly left a mark on his mind.

“In terms of mental health, I've changed. And I've changed because of the psychedelics… it's sort of made me think, ‘What I should be doing? How can I help others?’,” he explained.

Trott isn't worried that his book will persuade people who don't use drugs to start. He believes that if someone has chosen to read a book titled "The Drug User’s Bible," they are likely already interested in taking drugs.

However, he is optimistic that the book could offer valuable information to those concerned about drug use, such as parents of teenagers.

Trott explained: “I’ve got two kids, and you're thinking, ‘Well, you know, they're in a situation where they might be taking drugs, should there be fore-armed? Should they actually know if they're going to take a drug?”

“You've got this choice of letting the child go into this risky situation without being armed with facts and data and safety information and just, you know, taking a risk. Or [you can] arm them with harm reduction or safety procedure and knowledge about the drugs that are prevalent in the location before they go into it. You have the power to do that.”

Trott has made the '10 commandments' of drug use available as a free downloadable PDF online. However, for those who decide to purchase his book, he strongly advises against skipping the safety measures, stating, "You’re cheating yourself. Information and knowledge are empowerment."

Undertaking his mission because he felt it would be useful, Trott, despite the challenges, is confident in one thing: "It's going to save lives."