Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 22, 2025
Mackenzie T Kiniry, Renee E Magnan, Sarah N Elder et al.
In a survey of 309 adults, perceptions of psychedelic substances varied by the reason for use: therapeutic use was seen as having more positive health consequences, while recreational use was seen as having more negative health consequences. People who had used psychedelics in their lifetime (40.7% of the sample) rated both therapeutic and recreational uses as having more positive health consequences. Overall, moderate to strong positive and negative health perceptions were reported. The findings suggest that public views of psychedelics depend on the context of use, which could inform public health communications.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 7, 2025
Fernando Espí Forcén
A patient who used psilocybin without psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy required inpatient psychiatric admission. The case highlights the importance of taking psilocybin in controlled clinical settings. The authors discuss how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy could have changed the outcome and the role of experiential learning for potential prescribers.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 29, 2024
Taynara Simão Matos, Flávia Da Silva Zandonadi, Alex Aparecido Rosini Silva et al.
Ayahuasca, a traditional brew made from Psychotria viridis leaves and Banisteriopsis caapi vine, shows therapeutic potential for depression. Analysis of 126 samples from different religious groups and geographic origins using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that metabolite composition varies by preparation group. Samples also differed in antioxidant effects measured by FRAP and ORAC assays. Glycosylated and phenolic compounds were key to distinguishing brews. Preparation method caused more variability than the botanical variety of B. caapi. Brews made with "caupuri" or "tucunacá" varieties showed differences in L-glutamate and arginine/proline metabolism, suggesting a possible explanation for swollen stem nodes in "caupuri."
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 15, 2024
Jamie E Parnes, Mitch Earleywine
People who inhale DMT often start because of curiosity, general interest in psychedelics, and hope for spiritual benefits. Those who have used other psychoactive substances, especially ayahuasca, and who extract DMT themselves tend to use it more frequently. Most users obtain DMT from a friend and find it slightly difficult to get. They typically inhale it from a glass pipe in private homes, alone or in small groups. Positive experiences include psychological cleansing or catharsis, while challenges involve difficult integration, aversive experiences, or bad trips. Users generally rate DMT as very or slightly safe. The findings highlight the need for education and harm reduction as media coverage of DMT's potential benefits grows.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
April 1, 1993
Marlene Dobkin De Rios, Charles S. Grob
This work reviews the book 'Vine of the Soul: Medicine Men, Their Plants and Rituals in the Colombian Amazonia,' which examines the traditional use of psychoactive plants, particularly ayahuasca, by indigenous medicine men in the Colombian Amazon. The book documents the cultural, ritual, and medicinal contexts of these practices, emphasizing the role of plant-based knowledge in indigenous healing and spiritual traditions. The review highlights the book's contribution to ethnobotany and the understanding of Amazonian shamanism, noting its detailed descriptions of rituals and the relationship between plants and healers.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 22, 2026
Fiona Low, Mitch Earleywine
A taxonomy of intentions set by psychedelic users in naturalistic settings is established through a retrospective, mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey. The most common intentions focus on self-discovery, personal growth, healing, and mental health. Intentions related to mental health, self-expansion, and physical health are associated with greater subjective effects—including mystical experiences, emotional breakthroughs, and challenging experiences—as well as improved well-being and reductions in dysfunctional attitudes. Recreational intentions are unrelated to reductions in dysfunctional attitudes and correlate negatively with changes in well-being. Intentions that are specific, relevant, and integrated after the experience correlate with improvements in well-being, while flexible intentions unexpectedly covary with worse outcomes. Specific, relevant, integrated intentions focused on self-discovery and mental health may offer the most benefits.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 14, 2026
Aaron D. Cherniak, Pehr Granqvist, Mario Mikulincer et al.
Life stress increases the likelihood of challenging psychedelic experiences, which can lead to poorer outcomes. An online survey of 1,867 international psychedelic users tested whether therapeutic-like contexts and support moderate these links. Therapeutic-like context reduced the association between stressful life events and challenging experiences, and between challenging experiences and coping, but not other associations. The degree of therapeutic-like support moderated the association of challenging experiences with valence, impact on coping, and impact on well-being. In other models, therapeutic-like support had independent effects but no interaction effects. These findings suggest that therapeutic context and support can buffer the negative effects of life stress on psychedelic experiences and outcomes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 9, 2025
James M Zech, Jérémie Richard, Grant Jones
In a nationally representative sample of 139,524 adults, past-year LSD use was linked to 30% lower odds of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 15.7% fewer AUD symptoms, while MDMA and ketamine use showed no significant association with AUD or its symptoms. The findings suggest that different psychedelics relate differently to AUD risk, with LSD specifically associated with reduced alcohol-related problems.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 8, 2025
Samantha G. Gomez, Fiona Low, Mitch Earleywine
People who have used psychedelics are more willing to volunteer for psychedelic research studies, which may bias findings and limit generalizability. In a survey of 702 MTurk participants, psychedelic use predicted willingness to join unpaid surveys, longitudinal surveys, and an unpaid administration study. No demographic characteristics consistently predicted volunteering. Offering payment might help recruit a more diverse sample. Reaching individuals with less psychedelic experience is important for understanding clinical implications.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2025
Jamarie Geller, Nicolas G. Glynos, Andrew Lemmen et al.
Trainees in medical and allied professions learn about psychedelics and related therapies mainly from social media and word-of-mouth, sources that do not improve their knowledge. Structured education is scarce, and overall psychedelic literacy is low, but those who participate in programming at their own institutions show greater knowledge. As psychedelic therapies become more available and research advances, academic training programs must include relevant material to prepare future professionals to educate and counsel patients.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 22, 2024
Estelle Miller, Vida Bojovic, Olivia Maddren et al.
Online sources provide a wide range of information on microdosing psychedelics, covering substances, preparation methods, doses, schedules, and safety strategies. A qualitative analysis of 174 unique resources from medical databases, video websites, forums, drug-specific sites, search engines, and social media found no scientific recommendations exist for microdosing, as it is a relatively new concept. The authors recommend future in-person interviews and sample collection to better understand how people prepare microdoses.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2024
Nancy A Haug, Richa Wadekar, Rachel Barry et al.
Among 1,732 adults who use ecstasy, 22% showed risk for ecstasy use disorder as measured by the modified UNCOPE. Younger individuals and those using ecstasy more frequently and in larger quantities were at higher risk. Risky ecstasy users also reported greater concurrent use of alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, and ketamine. Participants from Great Britain and Nordic countries were about twice as likely to exhibit risk for ecstasy use disorder compared to those from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia/New Zealand. Taking ecstasy at home was the most common setting, followed by electronic dance music events and music festivals.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2024
Raymond Feng, Terence H. W. Ching, Amy Bartlett et al.
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.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2024
Reid Robison, Madeline Brendle, Claire Moore et al.
Ten frontline healthcare workers with burnout and PTSD symptoms were treated with group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in a private clinic. They attended six weekly sessions: one preparation, three ketamine sessions (two sublingual, one intramuscular), and two integration sessions. PTSD, depression, and anxiety scores improved from pre- to post-treatment, with a 59% reduction in PTSD scores, 58% reduction in depression scores, and 36% reduction in anxiety scores. After treatment, all participants screened negative for PTSD, 90% had minimal or mild depression, and 60% had minimal or mild anxiety. Ketamine was well tolerated with no significant adverse events. Participant feedback supported the improvements.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 29, 2023
Nicolas G. Glynos, D. Kruger, Nicholas Kolbman et al.
Most Canadians who have used psychedelics never discuss that use with their health care provider, even though a third use them to self-treat a health condition. In a survey of 2,384 adults, 81.2% had never talked about psychedelics with their primary clinician, only 4.4% used them with a therapist, and 3.6% in a clinical setting. Although 44.8% knew about substance testing services, only 42.4% of those had ever used them. People were more likely to discuss psychedelic use with their provider if they had a therapeutic motivation, were more inclined to seek therapist guidance, or identified as non-binary.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2023
A special issue presents six articles that argue for expanding psychedelic research beyond conventional biomedical models. The articles emphasize collaborating with indigenous communities and incorporating traditional knowledge systems. They call for innovative, multidisciplinary research methods with culturally relevant outcome measures. The authors advocate shifting from punitive drug policies to public-health and human-rights approaches, enabling multi-country studies and evidence-based community mental health care. Integrating traditional knowledge and community-based methodologies is presented as vital for evolving psychedelic science to improve health outcomes and promote human flourishing.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2023
Tianhong Tim Qiu, John Paul Minda
People who both meditate and use psychedelics recreationally report greater wellbeing, and the effect is partly explained by mystical experiences. In a survey of 1,219 individuals who engage in both practices, higher levels of mindfulness and more intense mystical experiences were each linked to substantially higher wellbeing. Psychedelic use itself strengthened the connection between mystical experience and wellbeing, acting as a moderator. These findings are among the first to show a strong, naturalistic link between personal meditation, recreational psychedelic use, and psychological wellbeing.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
April 6, 2022
Baptiste Fauvel, Kangaslampi Samuli, Strika-Bruneau Lana et al.
A French version of the 30-item Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) was validated using data from 320 French individuals about their most significant psychedelic experience. The original four-factor structure—mystical, positive mood, transcendence, and ineffability—fit the data best with good to excellent statistical indices. Total scores strongly correlated with subjective ratings of mystical and drug intensity-related qualities but not with non-mystical qualities. The French MEQ30 score predicted positive changes in psychological well-being, relations with self and others, connection with nature, and creativity, while drug intensity and non-mystical qualities did not or only weakly predicted such changes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2022
Frederick J. Heide, Tai Chang, Natalie Porter et al.
Spiritual benefit from cannabis is reported by two-thirds of a large online sample, with only 5.5% finding it a spiritual hindrance. Those who experienced spiritual benefit were distinguished from those who did not primarily by expansiveness motivation, non-theistic daily spiritual experience, meditation frequency, and certain mindfulness facets. The majority (63%) showed no cannabis use disorder; this non-disordered group was older and scored lower on experiential avoidance, psychological distress, and several motives for use. Spiritual motives for cannabis appear widespread among contemporary adults.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 7, 2020
Shevaugn Johnson, Q. C. Black
A 48-year-old woman with cluster headache and mood disorder reported that Hawaiian baby woodrose alleviated her headache symptoms and accompanying mental health problems. This first case report to examine both the analgesic and psycho-spiritual effects of Hawaiian baby woodrose supports nascent research on psychedelics for cluster headache and mental illness. Incidental observation also suggested potential therapeutic benefits of antiviral therapy. The authors highlight the need for further research into psychedelics for managing cluster headache and mental health conditions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2020
Samuli Kangaslampi, Aino Hausen, Tarina Rauteenmaa
Some people report lasting positive changes in life satisfaction, well-being, or mental health after taking psychedelic drugs, possibly because these substances can trigger mystical-type experiences. A study of 288 people who completed a Finnish translation of the Revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ30) about their first psychedelic use found the questionnaire to be reliable and valid. A four-factor structure—mystical qualities, positive mood, transcendence, and ineffability—fit the data best. Higher MEQ30 scores and full mystical experiences were strongly linked to describing the experience as mystical, spiritual, or religious and as personally significant, and were somewhat linked to sadness or difficulty. Mystical experiences were especially tied to positive changes in relationships with nature and oneself and in creativity, and were more common with larger doses.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2020
Joel Bornemann
This review examines the existing research on psychedelic microdosing—taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics. Evidence so far suggests users report benefits such as improved mood, focus, and creativity, though some studies find no effects and a minority report negative consequences like increased anxiety and physical discomfort. However, methodological weaknesses in current studies prevent firm conclusions.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2017
Stephen L Thornton, David Lisbon, Thomas Lin et al.
A 27-year-old man who snorted powder bought online had high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, dissociation, delayed speech, unsteady gait, and vertical nystagmus. Urine drug screening was positive for phencyclidine and a THC metabolite, but blood analysis detected methoxetamine and 3-methoxy-phencyclidine, not phencyclidine or THC. Methoxetamine concentrations were 279, 205, and 180 ng/mL; 3-methoxy-phencyclidine concentrations were 167, 131, and 90 ng/mL at 0, 2, and 3 hours after arrival. His mental state and blood pressure returned to normal eight hours later. This case adds to limited reports on these novel arylcyclohexylamines and their toxicity.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2016
Mark Haden, Brian Emerson, Kenneth W. Tupper
A public-health-based regulatory model for psychedelics is proposed, building on earlier post-prohibition frameworks for currently illegal drugs. The model incorporates governance, supervision, control of set and setting, youth access restrictions, supply control, demand limitation, and evaluation, informed by recent research on determinants of benefit and harm from psychedelic use.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2016
Evelyn Hearne, Marie Claire Van Hout
Dissociative novel psychoactive substances like methoxetamine, 3-MeO-PCP, and methoxphenidine are used as substitutes for illicit ketamine. An analysis of 90 user trip reports and 115 forum threads from seven drug fora, drawn from 3,476 screened threads, revealed five themes and 43 categories describing how online communities share communal folk pharmacology—perceptions of risk, informed knowledge, and indigenous harm-reduction practices. The findings suggest that forum activity disseminates and exchanges harm-reduction tactics among users. Further monitoring of Internet drug fora is recommended to explore variations in these practices and to inform public online health education and drug prevention.