International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
March 17, 2026
Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa Bradley, Heith Copes et al.
Abstract Despite a long-standing interest in the potential similarities between psychedelic and psychotic experiences, no recent research has systematically explored the subjective overlap between these states in individuals who have experienced both. To provide rich accounts of potential overlaps and distinctions, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals diagnosed with...
Front Psychiatry
December 9, 2025
Haley Maria Dourron, Heith Copes, Daniel H. Grossman et al.
3 citations
Background: People with a history of psychotic disorders are excluded from contemporary trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Although survey studies have explored the impact of naturalistic psychedelic use on people with a history of psychotic disorders, a qualitative study has yet to examine the subjective effects of psychedelic use in this population during both the acute effects and...
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
June 1, 2025
Haley Maria Dourron, Melissa Bradley, Otto Simonsson et al.
7 citations
Prior research examining the associations between psychedelic use and general psychotic symptoms has yielded mixed findings. However, no studies have investigated the relationships between psychedelic use and specific psychotic symptoms, and whether these relationships might differ among those with liability to psychosis, namely those with a history of psychotic or bipolar disorders. Using...
Sociology Compass
February 26, 2025
Heith Copes, Haley Copeland, Lynne M. Vieraitis et al.
ABSTRACT The concept of cultural appropriation has drawn increasing attention from academic disciplines and nonacademic circles. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes cultural appropriation nor whether it is harmful. The contested nature of the concept suggests that it is important to understand how people respond to such accusations. Indeed, understanding how people resist accusations...
The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association
2025
Melissa Bradley, Daniel H. Grossman, Otto Simonsson et al.
1 citation
Recent legislative initiatives in the United States have focused on the medical and legal status of psychedelics, prompting interest in understanding public perceptions of their risks. This study investigates rural-urban differences in the perception of LSD and cannabis risks using national survey data. Data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) between 2015 and 2021 were...
Journal of Drug Issues
August 22, 2024
Heith Copes, Andrew Hochstetler, Jared Ragland et al.
3 citations
Our aim is to understand how those who use peyote in a naturalistic setting discuss it changed their lives and to what they attribute this change. To do this, we draw on data from a photo-ethnography of people who attended peyote ceremonies in rural Northcentral Alabama. Broadly, we found that participants discussed four core areas of change: reduced drug and alcohol misuse, new perspectives on...
British Journal of Criminology
October 7, 2023
Heith Copes, Jared Ragland
8 citations
Narrative criminology prioritizes personal narratives for explaining past behaviours and shaping future decisions. Using this perspective, we rely on data from a photo-ethnography with people who use peyote in religious ceremonies to understand how their discourses about peyote shape their experiences with it. We find that participants define peyote as an ‘earth medicine’ that helps with...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 31, 2023
Haley Maria Dourron, Heith Copes, Agasthya Vedre-Kyanam et al.
6 citations
Deliriants are the least studied class of hallucinogens and display noticeable subjective effects, including dysphoria, hallucinations, and substantial alterations in thought. High doses of diphenhydramine (DPH), an over-the-counter antihistamine medication, can produce deliriant effects due to secondary anticholinergic activity. We sought to characterize the subjective experiences produced by...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2022
Peter S. Hendricks, Heith Copes, Neiloufar Family et al.
8 citations
Background: Classic psychedelics show promise in the treatment of mental health conditions; however, more scalable intervention protocols are needed to maximize access to these novel therapeutics. In this proof-of-concept study, perceptions of safety, subjective effects, and beliefs about the clinical utility of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were evaluated among healthy participants ( N =...
Acta Sociologica
January 11, 2021
Willy Pedersen, Heith Copes, Liridona Gashi
25 citations
We are now witnessing a radical revival in clinical research on the use of psychedelics (e.g. LSD and psilocybin), where ‘mystical’ experiences are at the centre. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 50 psychedelic drug users, we document how they draw on archetypical mystical narratives, comprising three key dimensions: (1) the transcendence of time and space; (2) deep euphoria; and (3) the...
Journal of Drug Issues
August 30, 2019
Blake Beaton, Heith Copes, Megan Webb et al.
13 citations
Microdosing classic psychedelics (e.g., LSD [lysergic acid diethylamide] and psilocybin) is the practice of taking small amounts of these substances to bring about various positive life changes. Little is known about the subjective experiences and perceptions of those who engage in the practice. Accordingly, we use the sociology of accounts as a theoretical framework to explore the ways that...
International Journal of Drug Policy
May 8, 2019
Megan Webb, Heith Copes, Peter S. Hendricks
75 citations
BackgroundMicrodosing involves ingesting a small dose of a classic psychedelic (e.g., LSD and psilocybin) at regular intervals for prolonged periods. The practice is said to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and offer several creative and practical benefits to users. Using the narrative identity theoretical framework, our aim was to explore the experiences of those who microdosed classic...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
October 17, 2017
Peter S. Hendricks, Michael S Crawford, Karen L. Cropsey et al.
91 citations
Criminal behavior exacts a large toll on society and is resistant to intervention. Some evidence suggests classic psychedelics may inhibit criminal behavior, but the extent of these effects has not been comprehensively explored. In this study, we tested the relationships of classic psychedelic use and psilocybin use per se with criminal behavior among over 480,000 United States adult...