Bluelight (web forum) explained

Bluelight.org
Nickname:Bluelight
Formerly:Bluelight.ru, Bluelight.nu
Caption:Bluelight.org
Predecessor:MDMA Clearinghouse
Status:Non-profit organization
Purpose:Harm reduction, peer support, academic research, mental health, drug education, substance dependence recovery
Headquarters:Melbourne, Australia
Region Served:International
Membership:475,000 (June 2024)
Language:English
Leader Title:Executive Director
Leader Name:Monica J. Barratt
Parent Organization:Bluelight Communities Ltd.
Affiliations:Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Erowid
Tripsit
PillReports.net
Num Volunteers:50+

Bluelight is a web-forum, research portal, online community, and non-profit organization dedicated to harm reduction in drug use.[1] [2] Its userbase includes current and former substance users, academic researchers, drug policy activists, and mental health advocates.[3] [4] It is believed to be the largest online international drug discussion website in the world.[5] As of February 2024, the website claims over 465,000 registered members.[6]

Bluelight has been utilized by academic researchers as a primary source of data in numerous publications.[7] [8] [9] Researchers also utilize the site to advertise research studies, recruit study participants, and better understand the world of substance use. Research groups and organizations that have partnered with Bluelight to recruit study participants include Imperial College London,[10] [11] Johns Hopkins University,[12] [13] [14] Health Canada,[15] Karlstad University,[16] Curtin University,[17] Macquarie University,[18] Columbia University,[19] [20] University of Pennsylvania,[21] University of Michigan,[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] Toronto Metropolitan University (then known as Ryerson University),[28] and MAPS.

Researchers have found that the most common reasons for substance users to visit Bluelight.org and similar online communities are to learn "how to use drugs safely" and "how to help others use drugs safely."[29]

Bluelight does not condemn or condone drug use, but instead advocates educating individuals to make informed decisions, connecting them with local harm reduction services, and providing them with evidence-based harm reduction resources and public safety notices. Bluelight emphasizes "meeting users where they are", and supporting them whether they wish to continue, moderate, or cease their substance use.[30]

In 2022, Bluelight launched an expansion to various social media platforms, most notably establishing a community on the instant messaging platform Discord dedicated to harm reduction, mental health, & peer support.[31] [32] As of June 2024, its Discord community is home to over 8,500 members.

History

Bluelight.org was originally formed in 1997 as a message board on bluelight.net called the MDMA Clearinghouse.[33] The board was created as a side project by the owner of West Palm Beach design company Bluelight Designs.[34] 200-300 users joined the site between 1998-1999, but the site's servers were heavily limited and could only store a few threads at a time; this led to the creation of 'The New Bluelight' forum in May 1999 and the registration of the bluelight.nu domain in June 1999.

The site began to explode in popularity in the early 2000s with the rise of MDMA in the club scene, amassing nearly 7,000 members by the year 2000 and 59,000 by the start of 2006.[35]

The site switched to the bluelight.ru domain in October 2005, and switched again to bluelight.org in January 2014.

In February 2022, Bluelight launched a social media initiative and spearheaded an expansion to other platforms. The centerpiece of this expansion is a Discord community dedicated to harm reduction, mental health, & peer support. The community brands itself as "a safe haven for people who are LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, substance users, struggling with mental health, or just don't feel like they fit in anywhere else."

In early 2024, Bluelight became a subsidiary of the Australian non-profit organization Bluelight Communities Ltd.[36]

Partnerships

In the early 2000s, Bluelight worked with reagent test supplier EZ-Test to promote the sale of drug checking kits.

In 2007, Bluelight partnered with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a non-profit organization working to raise awareness and understanding of psychedelic drugs through education, clinical research, and advocacy.[37] MAPS utilized Bluelight to recruit participants for its first MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trial for PTSD. In 2013, the official MAPS forums were migrated to Bluelight.[38]

Bluelight's other partners include Erowid, a non-profit organization dedicated to education surrounding psychoactive drugs; Tripsit, a harm reduction education website; Pill Reports, a web-based database for drug checking results that was initially formed as an offshoot of the site; and the Global Drug Survey, an independent research organization focused on collecting data about substance use.

Notable users

See also

Notes and References

  1. Anderson . Laurie S. . Bell . Heidi G . Gilbert . Michael . Davidson . Julie E . Winter . Christina . Barratt . Monica J . Win . Beta . Painter . Jeffery L . Menone . Christopher . Sayegh . Jonathan . Dasgupta . Nabarun . 2017-02-01 . Using Social Listening Data to Monitor Misuse and Nonmedical Use of Bupropion: A Content Analysis . JMIR Public Health and Surveillance . 3 . 1 . e6 . 10.2196/publichealth.6174 . free . 2369-2960 . 5311422 . 28148472.
  2. Chiauzzi . Emil . Dasmahapatra . Pronabesh . Lobo . Kimberly . Barratt . Monica J. . June 2013 . Participatory research with an online drug forum: a survey of user characteristics, information sharing, and harm reduction views . Substance Use & Misuse . 48 . 8 . 661–670 . 10.3109/10826084.2013.800117 . 1532-2491 . 23750771 . 207520485 . 1959.4/unsworks_73353 . free . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010439/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23750771/ . live .
  3. Web site: Aubusson . Kate . 2016-11-16 . Drug users swap stories, share warnings online in search for safety . 2020-11-14 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en . 2020-11-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201114032626/https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/drug-users-swap-stories-share-warnings-online-in-search-for-safety-20161111-gsnnt6.html . live .
  4. Web site: Johnson . Doug . 2019-10-18 . To Tackle Drug Use, Researchers and People With Addiction Alike Turn to Online Forums . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210916051306/https://undark.org/2019/10/18/fighting-opioid-crisis-online/ . 2021-09-16 . 2020-11-14 . Undark Magazine . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2016 . Site Info . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170220224134/http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/bluelight.org . February 20, 2017 . January 16, 2017 . Alexa..
  6. Web site: 2024-02-04 . Forum list . 2024-02-04 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000423/https://bluelight.org/xf/forums/ . live .
  7. Ward . Jeanine . Rhyee . Sean . Plansky . Jason . Boyer . Edward . November 2011 . Methoxetamine: a novel ketamine analog and growing health-care concern . Clinical Toxicology . 49 . 9 . 874–875 . 10.3109/15563650.2011.617310 . 1556-9519 . 21981756 . 28388437 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010439/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21981756/ . live .
  8. Barratt . Monica J. . Allen . Matthew . Lenton . Simon . June 2014 . "PMA sounds fun": negotiating drug discourses online . Substance Use & Misuse . 49 . 8 . 987–998 . 10.3109/10826084.2013.852584 . 1532-2491 . 24779498 . 20.500.11937/35817 . 41509447 . free . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034952/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24779498/ . live .
  9. 2012-12-03 . Identifying emerging trends in recreational drug use; outcomes from the Psychonaut Web Mapping Project . Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry . en-US . 39 . 2 . 221–226 . 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.07.011 . 0278-5846 . Deluca . Paolo . Davey . Zoe . Corazza . Ornella . Di Furia . Lucia . Farre . Magi . Flesland . Liv Holmefjord . Mannonen . Miia . Majava . Aino . Peltoniemi . Teuvo . Pasinetti . Manuela . Pezzolesi . Cinzia . Scherbaum . Norbert . Siemann . Holger . Skutle . Arvid . Torrens . Marta . Van Der Kreeft . Peer . Iversen . Erik . Schifano . Fabrizio . 22841965 . 22296279 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034952/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584612001844 . live .
  10. Carhart-Harris . R. L. . King . L. A. . Nutt . D. J. . 2011-10-01 . A web-based survey on mephedrone . Drug and Alcohol Dependence . 118 . 1 . 19–22 . 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.02.011 . 1879-0046 . 21420252 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010440/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21420252/ . live .
  11. Kettner . H. . Rosas . F. E. . Timmermann . C. . Kärtner . L. . Carhart-Harris . R. L. . Roseman . L. . 2021 . Psychedelic Communitas: Intersubjective Experience During Psychedelic Group Sessions Predicts Enduring Changes in Psychological Wellbeing and Social Connectedness . Frontiers in Pharmacology . 12 . 10.3389/fphar.2021.623985 . free . 33995022 . 8114773 . 1663-9812.
  12. Davis . Alan K . Clifton . John M . Weaver . Eric G . Hurwitz . Ethan S . Johnson . Matthew W . Griffiths . Roland R . September 2020 . Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N -dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects . Journal of Psychopharmacology . en . 34 . 9 . 1008–1020 . 10.1177/0269881120916143 . 32345112 . 0269-8811. free .
  13. Web site: 2020-09-25 . Completed - Quick survey on the interactions between psilocybin mushrooms and antidepressants . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010444/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/quick-survey-on-the-interactions-between-psilocybin-mushrooms-and-antidepressants.892589/ . live .
  14. Web site: 2023-05-23 . Recruiting - Johns Hopkins survey on HPPD: Help us uncover new insights into the condition and its treatment . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010439/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/johns-hopkins-survey-on-hppd-help-us-uncover-new-insights-into-the-condition-and-its-treatment.932252/ . live .
  15. Young . Matthew M. . Dubeau . Chad . Corazza . Ornella . 2015-02-16 . Detecting a signal in the noise: monitoring the global spread of novel psychoactive substances using media and other open-source information . Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental . en . 2015-07-28 . 30 . 4 . 319–326 . 10.1002/hup.2477 . 0885-6222 . 4584493 . 26216568.
  16. Soussan . Christophe . Kjellgren . Anette . 2016-06-01 . The users of Novel Psychoactive Substances: Online survey about their characteristics, attitudes and motivations . International Journal of Drug Policy . 32 . 77–84 . 10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.03.007 . 27184218 . 0955-3959 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010439/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395916300767 . live .
  17. Barratt . Monica J. . Cakic . Vince . Lenton . Simon . March 2013 . Patterns of synthetic cannabinoid use in Australia . Drug and Alcohol Review . en . 32 . 2 . 141–146 . 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00519.x . 23043552 . 0959-5236 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034952/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00519.x . live . 1959.4/unsworks_73313 . free .
  18. Polito . Vince . Stevenson . Richard J. . 2019-02-06 . A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics . PLOS ONE . en . 14 . 2 . e0211023 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0211023 . free . 1932-6203 . 6364961 . 30726251. 2019PLoSO..1411023P .
  19. Web site: 2022-05-16 . Recruiting - Anonymous Survey Study on Psychedelic Use in Romantic Relationships - Columbia University . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010445/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/anonymous-survey-study-on-psychedelic-use-in-romantic-relationships-columbia-university.919943/ . live .
  20. Web site: 2022-12-23 . Recruiting - RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS: Healthy heroin users . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010447/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/research-volunteers-healthy-heroin-users.928034/ . live .
  21. Web site: 2023-09-21 . Recruiting - [USA] Community Health Discussion Session/Survey Study (Reimbursement up to $225) ]. 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010440/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/usa-community-health-discussion-session-survey-study-reimbursement-up-to-225.934923/ . live .
  22. Kruger . Daniel J. . Enghoff . Oskar . Herberholz . Moss . Barron . Julie . Boehnke . Kevin F. . 2023-10-20 . "How Do I Learn More About this?": Utilization and Trust of Psychedelic Information Sources Among People Naturalistically Using Psychedelics . Journal of Psychoactive Drugs . en . 55 . 5 . 631–639 . 10.1080/02791072.2023.2201263 . 37078418 . 258237524 . 0279-1072 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034955/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2023.2201263 . live .
  23. Glynos . Nicolas G. . Fields . Christopher W. . Barron . Julie . Herberholz . Moss . Kruger . Daniel J. . Boehnke . Kevin F. . 2023-08-08 . Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: A World Apart from Clinical Care . Journal of Psychoactive Drugs . en . 55 . 4 . 379–388 . 10.1080/02791072.2022.2108356 . 35950817 . 251494820 . 0279-1072 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034953/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2022.2108356 . live .
  24. Kruger . Daniel J. . Glynos . Nicolas G. . Fields . Christopher W. . Herberholz . Moss . Boehnke . Kevin F. . 2023-08-08 . An Assessment of Psychedelic Knowledge Among People Using Psychedelics Naturalistically . Journal of Psychoactive Drugs . en . 55 . 4 . 420–424 . 10.1080/02791072.2022.2142709 . 36328419 . 253303071 . 0279-1072 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034953/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2022.2142709 . live .
  25. Kruger . Daniel J. . Barron . Julie . Herberholz . Moss . Boehnke . Kevin F. . 2023-10-20 . Preferences and Support for Psychedelic Policies and Practices Among Those Using Psychedelics . Journal of Psychoactive Drugs . en . 55 . 5 . 650–659 . 10.1080/02791072.2023.2228784 . 37353935 . 259240648 . 0279-1072 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034954/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2023.2228784 . live .
  26. Boehnke . Kevin F. . Cox . Kasey . Weston . Cody . Herberholz . Moss . Glynos . Nicolas . Kolbman . Nicholas . Fields . Christopher W. . Barron . Julie . Kruger . Daniel J. . 2023 . Slouching towards engagement: interactions between people using psychedelics naturalistically and their healthcare providers . Frontiers in Psychiatry . 14 . 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1224551 . free . 1664-0640 . 10436225 . 37599880.
  27. Web site: 2023-10-27 . Recruiting - Amplifying Community Voices Through Science — We want to hear about YOUR experiences with psychedelics. . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034952/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/amplifying-community-voices-through-science-%E2%80%94-we-want-to-hear-about-your-experiences-with-psychedelics.935564/ . live .
  28. Web site: 2020-03-04 . Writing-up - Psychedelic Drug Experiences Survey . 2024-02-05 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205010442/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/psychedelic-drug-experiences-survey.885016/ . live .
  29. Pereira . Margaret . Scott . John . 2017-01-02 . Harm reduction and the ethics of drug use: contemporary techniques of self-governance . Health Sociology Review . en . 26 . 1 . 69–83 . 10.1080/14461242.2016.1184583 . 148474622 . 1446-1242 . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205034952/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14461242.2016.1184583 . live .
  30. Web site: Bluelight.org . 2024-02-04 . Discord Servers . en . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000413/https://discordservers.com/server/867876356304666635 . live .
  31. Web site: 2022-02-10 . Bluelight Social Media Links + Discord . 2024-02-04 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000415/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/%F0%9F%93%B6-bluelight-social-media-links-discord-%EF%B8%8F%E2%83%A3.916313/ . live .
  32. Web site: Bluelight.org - Discord Servers . 2024-02-04 . Discord . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000413/https://discord.com/servers/bluelight-org-867876356304666635 . live .
  33. Web site: Nichols . Sam . 2019-05-06 . How 'Bluelight' Became a Life-Saving Encyclopedia of Drug Info . 2024-03-01 . Vice . en . 2024-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240301100416/https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmp4qx/how-bluelight-became-a-life-saving-encyclopedia-for-drug-info . live .
  34. Web site: Bluelight History . 2024-02-04 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000424/https://bluelight.org/xf/pages/History/ . live .
  35. Web site: 2006-01-01 . Bluelight - Powered by vBulletin . 2024-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060101023154/http://www.bluelight.ru:80/vb/ . 2006-01-01 .
  36. Web site: 2024-03-08 . New website and branding for Bluelight has landed! . 2024-03-18 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318215352/https://www.bluelight.org/community/threads/new-website-and-branding-for-bluelight-has-landed.938140/ . live .
  37. Web site: 2007-02-14 . Bluelight - MAPS.org partnership! . 2024-02-04 . Bluelight.org . en-US . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205000416/https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/bluelight-maps-org-partnership.293171/ . live .
  38. Web site: 5 April 2013. Bluelight Announcement. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021063453/https://maps.org/news/media/3545-bluelight-announcement. 2021-10-21. 2020-11-14. MAPS. en-gb.
  39. News: Simonini . Ross . 2012-02-10 . A Psychonaut's Adventures in Videoland . 2024-02-29 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . 2012-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120213154413/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/movies/hamilton-morriss-web-series-hamiltons-pharmacopeia.html . live .
  40. Davis . Joshua . John McAfee Fled to Belize, But He Couldn't Escape Himself . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223113539/https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-john-mcafees-last-stand/ . 2024-02-23 . 2024-02-29 . Wired . en-US . 1059-1028.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bluelight (web forum)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.