Denver Officers to Train in Psychedelic Crisis Response

First responders in Denver will soon undergo training designed specifically to bolster psychedelic crisis response and intervention.

In 2022, voters simultaneously legalized psychedelic therapy and decriminalized five different substances at the ballot box. Decriminalization has already taken effect , meaning it’s no longer a crime to use, possess, grow and share certain psychedelics, the Denver Post reports.

The training, developed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS), aims to “enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of first responders to quickly recognize and effectively respond to emotional and behavioral crisis incidents involving psilocybin and other psychedelics,” according to an announcement this week.

Local law enforcement — including the Denver Police Department and Denver Sheriff’s Department, emergency medical service personnel at Denver Health Paramedics and Denver Fire Department, and mental health first responders with the city’s contractor WellPower — will receive the Psychedelic Crisis Assessment and Intervention training. Each department will receive a customized version to enhance responder safety and reduce risk and liability when individuals are experiencing a psychedelic-induced crisis.

The curriculum addresses topics such as the psychological and physiological effects of ingesting psilocybin, which is one compound in “magic mushrooms”; potential adverse effects of psilocybin; and best practices and techniques for assessing, de-escalating and managing psychedelic crises. It also covers the history and broader use of psychedelics.