I applaud this thread very greatly and am very happy to see like-minded individuals speak their advice on this.
Harm reduction truly is key. Overdosing on anything is seriously scary. I have myself and I'm very glad to still be alive and breathing. I'm glad I can reflect on that experience, as I continually learn more and I share this knowledge and this human experience with others, so in a way, however small, I can make a difference and help save someone. After all, knowledge IS power. I don't necessarily agree with medicating oneself with drugs, but I'm not gonna sit here and say I don't follow suit. It's not healthy, but it may be the healthier of two evils, if you will.
Know your substance. Have you tested it? Have you read all that there is to know about it? Do you know how it works, what it looks like? Do you know its complications, adverse side-effects, contraindications?
Know your dose. What subunit is it measured in? Micrograms? Milligrams? Weigh your dose. Even two people given the SAME drug and the SAME dose may have completely opposite effects. Never go off of how much others use because it could be fatal. Even if it's not, it could make the difference between a pleasurable experience and a dysphoric one.
Know yourself. Are you in the right mindset and setting to be using? Are you in good health? How well do you know your own physiology? Do you have an "addictive" personality? Are you a social user? One must be a master of himself before he is to master his substance.
Of course, there is a vast amount of precautionary information users must be informed of, more than what I've listed. But these should be the barebones of a safe, successful and enjoyable method of substance use.
Happy Highs! ?