Recreational Use of Psychedelics at Music Festivals: Motivation, Nature of Experiences and Learnings
May 8, 2023 Iryana Mosina, Pascal Michael 3 citations preprint
Recreational psychedelic use at music festivals can yield valuable experiences for preventive mental health. A mixed-methods study combining surveys and interviews found that motivations included fun, sensory exploration, and deepening connections through art, nature, and others. The non-controllable festival environment, typically avoided in research, contributed to life-changing effects. Enjoyable experiences dominated over challenging ones, and mystical experiences were surprisingly common. Participants reported increased empathy, awareness, acceptance, mindfulness, and positive life changes. Except for post-MDMA recovery, positive impacts on mental health included higher happiness, compassion, awe, trust, and emotional balance. The findings suggest potential for preventive mental health strategies, alongside risks, advocating for de-stigmatization, substance testing, education, and harm reduction services.