Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 9, 2025
Joseph J Palamar, Nicole D. Fitzgerald
2 citations
The DEA proposed placing the psychedelic phenethylamines DOC and DOI into Schedule I. Analysis of DEA seizure data, national survey responses, and scientific literature from 2005 to 2024 found that DOC submissions to forensic labs peaked at 152 in 2012 then dropped to only two in 2023-2024, while only forty DOI submissions were ever recorded, with none since 2019. Self-reported lifetime use of either drug on a nationally representative U.S. survey was below 0.01%. Only three poisonings linked to DOC and none to DOI were found. Availability, recreational use, and poisonings from these substances appear rare.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 11, 2025
Katie Dickson, Daniel Stubbings, Megan Hurst et al.
2 citations
Attitudes toward psychedelics in the UK are shaped by broader views on drug policy. People who see drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one are more likely to support psychedelic legalization and perceive lower risks. Women and religious individuals tend to view psychedelics as more harmful, while left-leaning and non-religious participants are more supportive of therapeutic use. Those with prior drug experience are more open to psychedelics. The findings suggest that shifting policy framing toward health-based approaches could increase support for psychedelic reform.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 4, 2025
Meredith C Meacham, Maha N. Mian, Ralph C. Wang et al.
2 citations
Among U.S. adults who have ever used a hallucinogen, four distinct patterns of lifetime use emerge: a group primarily using psilocybin (16%), a larger group using both LSD and psilocybin (46%), a group mainly using ecstasy (23%), and a group using multiple hallucinogens (15%). Older age is associated with higher odds of being in the LSD/psilocybin class compared with the psilocybin-only class, and non-White participants have higher odds of being in the ecstasy class. These overlapping use patterns suggest that clinical trials and future policies should account for polysubstance hallucinogen experiences.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 2, 2025
Brian S. Barnett, Miranda Arakelian, Jeremy Weleff et al.
2 citations
In 2023, a survey of 109 U.S. psychiatry residents found that most had limited formal education on psychedelics during training but strongly desired more instruction. 83.49% believed psychedelics hold promise for psychiatric disorders, though fewer (55.96%) saw similar potential for substance use disorders. Nearly 40% reported that psychedelic-related educational or research opportunities influenced their residency program rankings, and a similar proportion said the possibility of treating patients with psychedelics influenced their decision to pursue psychiatry. Higher knowledge scores and stronger belief in therapeutic potential were linked to greater influence on program ranking. The findings suggest a need to expand psychedelic-focused education in residency.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 2, 2025
Grace Stockwell, Nicholas Hoeh, Francesca Fogarty et al.
2 citations
In-depth interviews with 12 people receiving ketamine-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression reveal that preparation of mind-set—including openness, clear intentions, mindfulness, and understanding how the therapy works—supports therapeutic benefit. Comfort in the setting, fostered by learning about the therapist's personal experiences, a strong therapeutic alliance, and feeling safe, helps patients 'let go.' External cues like music can guide a spiritual journey. Caution is warranted when trauma surfaces and letting go leaves patients feeling vulnerable. These contextual processes inform future clinical trials and improve the efficacy of ketamine-assisted therapy.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 14, 2025
Lukas Bobak, Ian Dorney, Alexsandra Kovacevich et al.
2 citations
In an analysis of 110 Reddit posts from individuals with long COVID who used psilocybin, 78.2% reported any improvement in their symptoms, while 11.8% reported worsening. Among those reporting improvement, 77.9% said the improvement lasted beyond the acute psychedelic experience, and 5.8% reported improvement only during the experience. The most common symptoms were fatigue (47.3%), cognitive impairment (46.4%), and depression (30.0%). The authors suggest that controlled studies comparing social media data for other self-treatments or prospective observational studies of individuals self-treating with psychedelics may be warranted.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
February 13, 2025
Stanisław Adamczyk, Małgorzata Paczyńska, Anastasia Ruban et al.
2 citations
Psychedelics can cause profound changes in cognition, emotion, and perception, but the intensity of these effects varies widely. A cross-sectional online survey of 862 psychedelics users (701 had used LSD and 553 had used psilocybin mushrooms) examined how internal and external contextual factors relate to the intensity of ego dissolution. Those who used psychedelics for spiritual or self-healing purposes reported more intense ego dissolution, while those motivated by curiosity reported less intense experiences. The social context and physical environment were not strongly linked to the reported intensity. This suggests that internal mindset, rather than external setting, may be more influential in naturalistic use.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 7, 2025
Matthew Hicks, Heather Zwickey, Ryan Bradley
2 citations
A 43-year-old man seeking treatment for alcoholism and depression was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Over three years, a series of low-dose ketamine therapy sessions combined with integrative approaches led to resolution of severe alcoholism, a reduction in violent thoughts, and decreased depression symptoms. The case suggests that, with additional precautions, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can produce clinical improvements in depression, alcohol abuse, and antisocial personality traits.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 22, 2024
Wesley C Ryan, Boris D. Heifets
2 citations
In an addiction psychiatry practice offering intramuscular ketamine with psychotherapy for depression, 70 patients received 1,114 sessions over nearly seven years. Induction produced an 82% response, and improvement remained above 80% after six months of maintenance sessions given every 21 days at a mean dose of 1.13 mg/kg. Many patients (38%) stayed in treatment for at least a year. Dropouts were mostly due to logistical reasons (50%); side effects accounted for only 9.7%. One case of ketamine use disorder required residential treatment. Nausea was the main side effect managed with medication. Maintenance ketamine-assisted psychotherapy extended benefits for mood, anxiety, and substance use and was generally well tolerated.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 23, 2024
Jessica L Maples-Keller, Courtland S Hyatt, Nathaniel L Phillips et al.
2 citations
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 34 healthy adults examined whether a single dose of MDMA alters five-factor model personality traits and affective states 48 hours later. No statistically significant changes were observed for the four pre-registered hypotheses, but medium effect sizes emerged: trait Openness increased (d = .79) and Positive Affect increased (d = .51) compared to placebo. These preliminary findings suggest MDMA may produce short-term shifts in openness and positive mood, warranting larger, longer-term studies to clarify how such changes might inform MDMA-assisted therapy.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 2, 2024
Dave Rojas, Diane C Zelman, Alexander O Hauson et al.
2 citations
In a diverse and low-income sample of 15 individuals receiving ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, culture, race, ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ identity, stigma, and financial barriers were highly salient to the treatment experience. Four major themes emerged: insufficient financial resources, race/ethnicity and LGBTQIA+ identity, stigma, and culture and ritual. The findings indicate that issues of race, culture, stigma, ritual, and socioeconomic status must be incorporated into treatment planning and outcome research for psychedelic therapies.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2024
Alaina K Holt, Alyssa K Rudy, Ashlee N Sawyer et al.
2 citations
A survey of e-cigarette users found that devices originally intended for nicotine are now commonly used to consume other drugs, especially cannabinoids. Respondents averaged 27.4 years old, mostly male (73%). Vape pens were the most common device type. Cannabinoids were the most reported drug class for both lifetime and past 30-day use. Other drugs reported include herbal supplements, amphetamines, caffeine, kratom, vitamins, opiates, DMT, fentanyl, and ketamine. Vaping alone was the most common context, followed by with friends, at home, and at social events; less common contexts included driving, at work, and at school. The results can inform future national surveys and public safety efforts.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 21, 2023
Caroline Rutherford, Austin Le, Joseph J Palamar et al.
2 citations
Among nightclub and festival attendees at electronic dance music events in New York City, summer is associated with higher odds of using LSD and psilocybin (shrooms), independent of long-term increases in psilocybin use. Across 15 seasons from summer 2017 through fall 2022, surveys of 3,935 adults found that summer raised the odds of LSD use more than 2.5 times and psilocybin use more than 1.6 times compared to the average across all seasons. Cocaine and ecstasy use decreased over the study period without seasonal variation. The findings suggest summer as a key time for disseminating harm-reduction information for psychedelic users.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2016
Michael A Darracq, Stephen L Thornton, Alicia B Minns et al.
2 citations
A 19-year-old woman had two seizures and dangerously low sodium after taking "ecstasy" at a rave. Laboratory analysis of her blood and urine showed she had taken both MDMA and 3,4-DMA, and that her body produced very low levels of MDMA's CYP2D6 metabolites, indicating impaired metabolism through that pathway. The case suggests that combining MDMA with 3,4-DMA can lead to severe toxicity, including hyponatremia and seizures. Healthcare providers should be aware that people using illicit drugs may take multiple substances, and that such combinations can cause serious harm.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 18, 2026
Kevin H. Yang, Miranda Rasmussen, Kush V. Bhatt et al.
1 citation
Lifetime use of hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, or PCP) is associated with a modest increase in the odds of valvular heart disease after accounting for sociodemographic factors and other health conditions. In a large US adult sample, 13.2% reported lifetime hallucinogen use. The unadjusted prevalence of VHD was lower among users (3.6%) than non-users (4.7%), but after adjustment the odds rose slightly (adjusted odds ratio 1.08). The authors call for longitudinal studies to confirm this exploratory finding.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 21, 2025
Anna Bradford, Ethan Freedman, Rachel E Dinero
1 citation
A systematic review of 19 studies on psychedelic drug use and intimacy found overwhelmingly positive effects in laboratory settings, including improved relationship satisfaction, connectedness, emotional disclosure, empathy, and reduced social anxiety. In studies relying on retrospective self-reports, six of ten identified positive experiences such as enhanced relationship quality and closeness, while four reported negative experiences including disconnection, social anxiety, relationship dissatisfaction, and distrust. The review highlights that more research is needed to determine ideal settings for use and long-term impacts on intimacy.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 6, 2025
Khalid E Ahmed, Dima Abu Nasrieh, Haneen A Banihani et al.
1 citation
Most Jordanian physicians and medical students have limited familiarity with psychedelics and ketamine as mental health treatments. A survey of 1,985 respondents showed that LSD was the most recognized substance, while fewer identified psilocybin or MDMA. Attitudes varied by age, gender, and prior familiarity, but not by professional status. Three attitude groups emerged: 1,000 opposers, 677 cautious individuals, and 308 supporters. The findings indicate a need for targeted education to improve understanding of these emerging therapies within Jordan's medical community.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 30, 2025
Brandon Biba, Brian O’shea
1 citation
Analyses of Reddit discussions using Google's cloud-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) show that illicit substances such as heroin and methamphetamine are associated with highly negative general sentiments, whereas psychedelics like Psilocybin, LSD, and Ayahuasca generally evoke neutral to slightly positive sentiments. The findings suggest that online public sentiment toward psychedelics may be growing in acceptance of their therapeutic potential. Limitations include potential selection bias from the Reddit sample and challenges in accurately interpreting nuanced language using NLP.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 29, 2025
Araam Abboud, Kyle Hua, Hannah Redding et al.
1 citation
A survey of psychiatric patients at a community mental health center found that 62.4% were open to hallucinogenic psilocybin therapy and 60.4% to non-hallucinogenic forms. Patients with major depressive disorder preferred hallucinogenic therapy, while those with borderline personality disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder favored non-hallucinogenic options, possibly due to concerns about the intensity of hallucinogenic experiences. Individuals with substance use disorder showed greater acceptance of both forms than those without. The findings suggest societal stigma is not a major barrier to psilocybin therapy and that non-hallucinogenic forms may offer a more accessible option for some groups.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
April 18, 2025
Damian Swieczkowski, Aleksander Kwaśny, Krzysztof Sadko et al.
1 citation
Ibogaine, a non-classical psychedelic, is being studied as a potential treatment for substance use disorders, but safety concerns and lack of commercial interest hinder its development. A cross-sectional analysis of nine clinical trials from major registries found wide variability in trial designs, including dosing regimens and outcome measures. Most trials are early-phase, focusing on pharmacokinetics, withdrawal symptoms, and safety, with particular attention to cardiovascular risks. Preliminary evidence suggests possible therapeutic benefits, but the absence of large, late-phase trials prevents firm conclusions. Standardized clinical frameworks and lessons from research on classical psychedelics and MDMA could improve trial design and address issues like blinding and expectancy bias.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 15, 2025
Trey Brasher, David Rosen, Marcello Spinella
1 citation
People who use psychedelics report lower symptoms of behavioral addictions such as problem gambling, sexual addiction, compulsive buying, and eating disorders, along with greater well-being, even after accounting for demographics and other drug use. In a community sample of 1107 adults, psychedelic use uniquely predicted lower behavioral addiction scores, while major stimulant, alcohol, and nicotine vaping use predicted higher scores. Behavioral addiction symptoms were inversely correlated with well-being measures. These findings suggest psychedelics may help treat behavioral addictions, warranting a controlled pilot study or clinical trial.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 5, 2025
Josephine Yalovitser, Jonah Levine, Cole Zweber et al.
1 citation
A survey of 770 Vermont primary care providers found that two-thirds were familiar with therapeutic use of psychedelics, but fewer than half knew the legal status of LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA. Ninety-six percent were neutral or agreed that psychedelics have high therapeutic potential. The top concerns were effects on youth, risk of psychosis, and traffic safety. Eighty-three percent were not at all or only slightly concerned about inherent dangers. Seventy-seven percent wanted more education. Overall, Vermont PCPs are familiar with psychedelics and cautiously optimistic about their therapeutic role.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 1, 2025
Alexsandra Kovacevich, Ian Dorney, Lukas Bobak et al.
1 citation
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, smell loss (olfactory dysfunction) has become more common, but effective treatments are scarce. Anecdotal reports suggest that serotonergic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin might help. Analyzing 125 online posts from people with self-reported smell loss, 108 (86.4%) reported improvements in their sense of smell after using psychedelics. Of those, 55 (50.1%) first noticed improvement during the psychedelic experience, and 42 (38.8%) said the improvement lasted at least one day. No statistical link was found between dose and how long the benefit lasted for either psilocybin or LSD. These findings indicate that further research is needed to explore whether these substances could become a clinical treatment for smell loss.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
February 13, 2025
Yitong Xin, Roland R. Griffiths, Alan K. Davis
1 citation
Among ayahuasca users who report encountering an entity during their experience, males and females show different patterns of religious belief change. Before the encounter, males were more likely to identify as atheists and less likely to hold religious beliefs than females. After the encounter, both sexes became less atheist or agnostic and more religious, but the shift was larger for males: the proportion of religious males rose significantly, while the increase for females was not statistically significant. These results suggest that sex is linked to how religious beliefs shift after an entity encounter, pointing to the importance of considering sex in psychedelic research on spirituality.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2025
Morgan Hadley, Alicia Halliday, James Stone
1 citation
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) may be more common than previously thought. Among 415 hallucinogen and other drug users who completed an online questionnaire, 39.7% reported symptoms of Type I HPPD and 4.3% reported symptoms of Type II HPPD. Neuroticism scores did not differ between those with and without HPPD. Individuals with Type II HPPD were more likely to report anxiety, obsessional thoughts, paranoia, hypochondria, and panic attacks, and were also more likely to have used 25I-NBOMe, dextromethorphan, nitrous oxide, and benzodiazepines. Nearly half (47.3%) had never tested their drugs, complicating attribution of HPPD severity to specific substances.