Academic engagement with psychedelic studies has been limited and fragmented along traditional disciplinary lines. An interdisciplinary approach is essential for understanding the potential of psychedelics for human healing and flourishing, and for ensuring an inclusive, holistic, and sustainable evolution of the field. This paper explores the intersection of psychedelic studies and interdisciplinarity, calling for more interdisciplinary institutional and cultural approaches in academia.
A scoping review of academic literature on the intersection of queer identity and psychedelics found only 18 relevant resources from over 30,000 initially captured, revealing that most existing literature stigmatizes and problematizes queer psychedelic use. The review highlights strong interest among queer populations in using psychedelics for healing and identity development, and emphasizes the need for clinicians to understand queer psychedelic experiences to provide safe, effective care. It recommends future research directions to better explore the meaningful overlap between psychedelics and queerness, aiming to center queer experiences as essential in psychedelic research and practice.
Equity and diversity are essential for inclusive psychedelic research, yet oversights and misattributions of key figures persist. Dr. Valentina Pavlovna Wasson, an important early contributor to Western psychedelic science, remains under-recognized. Researchers must critically examine the foundations of psychedelic studies with an intersectional lens to avoid replicating social and cultural inequalities in the field's research and history.
After receiving psychoeducation about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) were more likely than non-Hispanic White participants to say they would seek PAP or refer others to it. The mode of psychoeducation—didactic, visual, narrative, or hope-based—did not change this result. Information about physical safety and success rate of PAP uniquely predicted BIPOC participants' likelihood of seeking and referring others. The findings suggest that stigma is not the main barrier to BIPOC participation in PAP trials; rather, providing psychoeducation may help diversify future research.