Erowid Center

What Erowid Center does

Erowid Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1995 and based in Grass Valley, California, with a 10-person core staff supplemented by volunteers. The organization operates Erowid.org, a comprehensive online knowledge base documenting psychoactive substances, plants, pharmaceuticals, and altered states of consciousness, serving general public researchers, academics, and harm reduction organizations. Its core products include the Experience Vaults (112,000+ user-submitted experience reports with complex metadata), the Shulgin Archive (200,000+ scanned documents from Sasha and Ann Shulgin's papers, with 75,000+ cataloged), the DrugsData anonymous drug checking program (paused since April 2024 due to DEA action), and specialized vaults covering Mind & Spirit, Freedom & Law, Culture & Art, and Psychoactive Technologies. Technology is built on a custom Apache-based relational database with jQueryUI, designed to manage complex interconnected data that the organization explicitly states cannot be migrated to a wiki or single-format system.

Erowid generates revenue exclusively through voluntary donations and a tiered membership program ($30-$10,000+ annually), supplemented by book donations and cryptocurrency contributions via BitPay. The go-to-market model is product-led: free content drives organic search traffic, while on-site donation appeals and membership perks (books, artwork, merchandise) convert supporters. Key partnerships include the Alliance for Collaborative Drug Checking (co-founded 2019), Brandeis University, Chicago Recovery Alliance, and the Shulgin Family Estate. Notable recent developments include the April 2024 DEA-ordered discontinuation of DrugsData testing (a 23-year-old program), the 2025 appointment as literary executor for Tim Scully's Underground LSD Manufacturing History Project, and a 2024 server migration after 10 years of continuous uptime. There is no application layer, no API, no mobile app, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Name

Erowid Center

Legal name

Erowid Center

Website

https://erowid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Erowid Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that operates Erowid.org, a comprehensive online knowledge base documenting psychoactive substances, experience reports, and harm reduction resources. It serves the general public, researchers, and harm reduction organizations through donation-supported free access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drug Information and Harm Reduction Content

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Information (51)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Lifestyle Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Controlled Substance Management & Compliance Support (HSABALAK)

Keywords

• Psychoactive substance information
• Harm reduction resources
• Drug checking services
• Experience report database
• Psychedelic research archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Grass Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: Nonprofit membership program with multiple donation tiers ($30-$10,000+) offering various perks including books, merchandise, and artwork. Operated as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID 20-3256212.
2. Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts cryptocurrency donations in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dash, Nano, Monero, ZCash, Solana, and LUNYR. Provides privacy for donors.
3. Book Donations: Accepts donations of used and new books about psychoactive plants, drugs, or culture. Books added to library or used as membership gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Erowid Center operates Erowid.org, a free online educational knowledge base documenting the complex relationship between humans and psychoactives, covering chemicals, plants, pharmaceuticals, smart drugs, experiences, freedom/law, technology, culture, and spirit. The platform provides 112,000+ first-person experience reports, 10,000+ scientific reference PDFs, the Shulgin Archive of 200,000+ scanned documents, and the DrugsData drug checking program. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it funds operations through tiered membership donations, cryptocurrency gifts, and book contributions.

Product overview

Erowid Center operates a comprehensive online knowledge base centered on psychoactive substances and altered states of consciousness. The primary product is Erowid.org, which serves as the main informational platform across multiple content vaults covering chemicals, plants, pharmaceuticals, experiences, freedom/law, technology, culture, and spirit. Key sub-products include the Experience Vaults (112,000+ user-submitted reports), DrugsData drug checking program (currently paused), the Shulgin Archive digitization project (200,000+ documents), and the Underground LSD Manufacturing History Project. The organization also maintains specialized vaults for Mind & Spirit, Culture & Art, Freedom & Law, and Psychoactive Technologies, plus a library of books on related topics. Erowid functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, not a commercial SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DrugsData: Lab-based drug checking program (currently paused)

Products and services

• Erowid.org The primary informational website and knowledge base documenting the complex relationship between humans and psychoactives, covering chemicals, plants, pharmaceuticals, smart drugs, experiences, freedom, technology, culture, and spirit. Free to access for the general public, researchers, and harm reduction advocates.
• Experience Vaults Database of over 112,000 user-submitted first-person experience reports with complex metadata documenting personal experiences with psychoactive substances and practices. Used by researchers, harm reduction advocates, and individuals seeking real-world accounts of substance effects.
• DrugsData Lab-based anonymous drug checking program (originally EcstasyData) that tests submitted samples for composition and purity using GC/MS analysis through a DEA-licensed partner laboratory. Operated for 23 years until paused in April 2024 due to DEA regulatory issues; re-launch expected no earlier than 2027. Used by harm reduction organizations and researchers.
• Shulgin Archive Digitization and cataloging project for Sasha and Ann Shulgin's library of books, documents, lab notes, correspondence, manuscripts, periodicals, theses, audio-visual materials, and photographs. Includes 200,000+ scanned documents with 75,000+ cataloged so far. Used by researchers studying psychedelic history.
• Underground LSD Manufacturing History Project Collection of documents, interviews, and annotated information about underground LSD manufacturing history, compiled by Tim Scully with Erowid Center named as literary executor in early 2025. Used by historians and researchers studying the history of LSD production.
• Freedom & Law Vault Information vault covering drug law, legislation, courts, police interactions, civil rights, voting, and government resources related to psychoactive substances. Used by individuals navigating legal questions related to drug policy and civil liberties.
• Mind & Spirit Vaults Resource covering spiritual traditions, religions, entheogens, meditation, breathing techniques, altered states, out-of-body experiences, death and dying, and consciousness research. Used by individuals exploring spirituality and altered states of consciousness.
• Culture & Art Vaults Content covering visionary arts, cultural commentary, Burning Man archives, fiction, philosophy, science, technology culture, mythology, and optical illusions. Used by individuals interested in the cultural and artistic dimensions of psychoactive experiences.
• Psychoactive Tech Vaults Information about machines and technologies designed to produce or enhance psychoactive mindstates, including floatation tanks, light technologies, mind machines, transcranial stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and binaural beats. Used by researchers and technology enthusiasts exploring consciousness-altering devices.
• Library/Bookstore Collection of books about psychoactive plants, drugs, mind sciences, consciousness, neurology, pharmacology, and related topics, available as membership gifts or for reference. Used by members and donors supporting the organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• DrugsData operated for 23 years providing anonymous drug testing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Alliance for Collaborative Drug CheckingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Founded in 2019 to support and bring together harm reduction groups doing drug checking. Erowid participates in and promotes this organization dedicated to standardizing drug checking practices and sharing knowledge between labs.
• Brandeis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for secondary analysis of on-site drug testing technologies such as FTIR and immunoassay test strips. Part of nationwide efforts to standardize harm reduction lab testing methodologies.
• Chicago Recovery AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for secondary analysis supporting on-site drug checking technologies. Collaborates on efforts to standardize drug testing and inform harm reduction efforts.
• Shulgin Family EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErowid Center serves as the archive and digitization repository for Sasha and Ann Shulgin's library and papers. Keeper Trout (co-lead), Ann Shulgin before her passing, and Sasha Shulgin before his death have all been directly involved in the archiving project. Tim Scully named Erowid Center as literary executor for the Underground LSD Manufacturing History Project.
• DEA-Licensed Partner LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationErowid's partner lab for DrugsData drug checking program. The lab has held DEA exception status since 1989, with renewals in 2001 (when DrugsData began as EcstasyData) and 2016. Uses Agilent GC/MS machines operating 24/7.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PsychonautWiki: Community-edited wiki providing structured information on psychoactive substances, their effects, and harm reduction — directly comparable as a free educational drug information resource.
• Bunk Police: Organization selling drug checking reagents and test kits to consumers and harm reduction groups, and publishing educational content about adulterants. Directly comparable drug checking capability, though more commercially structured.
• DanceSafe: Harm reduction nonprofit focused on nightlife and electronic music communities, offering drug checking services, fentanyl test strips, and educational materials. Closely comparable mission and overlapping drug checking capability.
• TripSit: Harm reduction organization providing drug interaction charts, live chat support, and educational content for people using psychoactive substances. Comparable as a harm reduction information provider with similar user base.
• Bluelight (drugs-forum): Long-running online community and forum for discussion of psychoactive substances, harm reduction, and drug policy — directly comparable as a community-driven psychoactive information platform.

Broad incumbents

• Drugs.com: Large mainstream pharmaceutical information site covering FDA-approved drugs, interactions, and patient information. Overlaps with Erowid on drug reference content but focuses on approved pharmaceuticals rather than psychoactive/illicit substances.

Emerging players

• Third Wave: Educational platform providing curated information on psychedelic substances, microdosing, and integration. Comparable as a psychoactive education resource but with a more commercial and consumer-facing positioning.
• MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies): Research and educational organization advancing psychedelic-assisted therapy through clinical trials and policy work. Comparable as a psychedelic-focused nonprofit with research and educational mandates, though more clinical/regulatory in focus.
• Psychedelic Science Review (psychedelicreview.com): Peer-reviewed-style publication summarizing psychedelic research for clinicians and educated lay audiences. Comparable as a research-driven psychedelic educational resource but oriented toward clinical/professional readers.

Others

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum/Resources: U.S. federal agency providing official drug information, scheduling, and regulatory resources. Not a peer in the harm reduction sense, but a counterpart authority on the same subject matter that directly affects Erowid's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/erowid
• Facebookfacebook.com/585621554821607
• Instagraminstagram.com/erowid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erowidcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Erowid Center