Research published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

Prevalence and Correlates of Lifetime Ecstasy/MDMA Use Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Adult Populations in the United States, 2015–2020

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 3, 2025 Wayne Kepner, Patricia Dionicio, Katie Bailey et al. 3 citations

Little is known about ecstasy/MDMA use among Asian American and Pacific Islander populations. Research is important because AAPIs face unique cultural factors that may influence use. We estimated the prevalence and correlates of lifetime ecstasy/MDMA use based on a representative sample of US AAPI adults aged ≥18 from the 2015-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. An estimated 5.1% of...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2474243 MDMA Ecstasy Pacific islanders Demography +3

Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Anosmia: An Investigation of Online Accounts

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 1, 2025 Alexsandra Kovacevich, Ian Dorney, Lukas Bobak et al. 1 citation

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has become increasingly prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet effective treatments remain limited. In recent years, anecdotal reports have emerged on the potential benefits of serotonergic psychedelics (lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], psilocybin, etc.) in improving OD. To date, only one case series in the medical literature has documented this phenomenon. This...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2474239 Anosmia Psychotherapist

Long-Term Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Associated with Naturalistic Ayahuasca Consumption.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 20, 2025 Broc A. Pagni, Andreas Halman, Jerome Sarris et al. 7 citations

The durability of ayahuasca's effects on mental health and the influence of clinical diagnoses on therapeutic response is unclear. Adults with no prior exposure to ayahuasca (n = 66) participating in neo-shamanic ayahuasca ceremonies completed questionnaires at baseline, 7 days, and 1, 6, and 12 months. Mixed models were used to characterize temporal trajectories in mental health, alcohol and...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2465800 Full text DMT Anxiety Depression Addiction +10

Setting the Stage for the Inner Journey: Unraveling the Interplay of Contextual Factors and the Intensity of Psychedelic-Induced Ego Dissolution.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 13, 2025 Stanisław Adamczyk, Małgorzata Paczyńska, Anastasia Ruban et al. 2 citations

Psychedelics have the potential to induce profound alterations in cognition, emotionality, and sensory perception. The quality and intensity of these subjective effects exhibit high intra- and inter-individual variability, which can potentially be accounted for by the variability in contexts in which psychedelics are used. Therefore, the aim of the present cross-sectional study was to...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2464797 Full text Ego dissolution Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive substances +8

Sex Differences in Religious Beliefs Before and After an Entity Encounter During an Ayahuasca Experience.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 13, 2025 Yitong Xin, Roland R. Griffiths, Alan K. Davis 1 citation

An interesting aspect of entity encounters during psychedelic experiences is their ability to transform one's religious beliefs. However, little is known about sex differences in these transformations. This study investigates sex differences in changes in religious beliefs before and after an entity encounter among ayahuasca users. Data were collected via an anonymous Internet-based survey (N =...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2462008 Full text DMT Religious beliefs Sex Spirituality +7

Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience: Results from a Prospective, Longitudinal Survey of Real-World Psilocybin Use

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 7, 2025 Amy Lehrner, Heather Jackson, David S. Mathai et al. 11 citations

The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for mental health. Despite increasing attention to challenging psychedelic experiences, few studies have explored the relevance of shame-related processes with psychedelic use. This prospective, longitudinal study involved sequential, automated, web-based surveys that...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2461997 Psilocybin Shame Hallucinogen Clinical psychology

Tripping into Treatment: Comparing Initial and Current Motivations for Psychedelic Use

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 5, 2025 Daniel J. Kruger, Jeff Albrecht, Jacob S. Aday et al. 3 citations

Psychedelic drugs are currently being explored for their therapeutic potential for a variety of health conditions. The recent increased public interest in psychedelics necessitates empirical investigation into motivations for use among users as well as how motivations may change over time. We asked a large sample of participants reporting naturalistic psychedelic use (N = 1221) about their...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2461999 Tripping Current fluid Psychotherapist

Oregon’s Emerging Psilocybin Services Workforce: A Survey of the First Legal Psilocybin Facilitators and Their Training Programs

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 29, 2025 Jason B. Luoma, Kim Hoffman, Adrianne R Wilson-Poe et al. 3 citations

New legal frameworks for supervised psychedelic services are emerging, with Oregon and Colorado implementing programs to train and license psilocybin facilitators. This study describes Oregon's early psilocybin facilitator workforce and assesses state-approved training programs. The Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus (OPEN) reviewed Oregon Health Authority-approved training programs and surveyed...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2454474 Full text Healthcare-certification Psilocybin-facilitators Mental-health-workforce Oregon-regulations +4

Down the Rabbit Hole: A Large-Scale Survey of Psychedelic Users’ Patterns of Use and Perceived Effects

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 29, 2025 Carrie Cuttler, Amanda Stueber, Jonathan J. Simone et al. 3 citations

The ever-changing landscape surrounding legality and accessibility of psychedelics and their increasing popularity make it imperative to better understand the nature of psychedelic use by the general population. To this end, 1,486 eligible respondents (Mage = 29.58, 67.1% male) residing in the United States completed an online survey designed to assess the types of psychedelics used, methods of...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2452226 Acute effects Administration methods Intentions Psychedelics +4

Experimental Test of Perceptions of Psychedelics by Therapeutic and Recreational Use.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 22, 2025 Mackenzie T Kiniry, Renee E Magnan, Sarah N Elder et al.

Recent research on the potential therapeutic value of psychedelic substances has led to changes in media representation and drug policy in some U.S. states. Yet, little is known about lay perceptions of these substances. The current study aimed to describe health perceptions of psychedelic substances, test differences in perceptions of therapeutic vs. recreational use of psychedelic substances,...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2452231 Full text Attitude Hallucinogen Perception Psychedelic +1

Death Anxiety Among Users and Non-Users of Psychedelics.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 10, 2025 Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia, Lucas Oliveira Maia, Everson Meireles et al. 8 citations

This study is a survey-type, cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil (n = 517), with online data collection taking place from April to June 2022. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the death anxiety in users and non-users of psychedelics. To this end, we also assessed the validity and reliability of the Death Anxiety Scale in Brazil. The following instruments were used for data...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2451035 Full text Death anxiety Psychedelics Psychometrics Validity +3

Psychotic-Like Experiences in Young Recreational Users of Ketamine: A Case Study.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 8, 2025 Valerio Ricci, Domenico de Berardis, Sheikh Shoib et al. 4 citations

This study explores the psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) associated with recreational ketamine use among young adults. Ketamine, initially introduced as an anesthetic, is now widely used recreationally for its dissociative effects, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. Ten participants aged 18-24, who used ketamine recreationally multiple times a week, were assessed using the...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2449909 Full text Novel psychoactive drugs Psychotic-like symptoms Schizophrenia Ketamine abuse +3

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case Report.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 7, 2025 Matthew Hicks, Heather Zwickey, Ryan Bradley 2 citations

There are currently no evidence-based treatment guidelines for antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Instead, treatment typically focuses on comorbid conditions. There is currently no literature documenting cases or research, theoretical or otherwise of using ketamine-assisted therapy or any other psychedelic therapy in cases of ASPD. In this case report, a 43-year-old man seeking...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2449911 Full text Antisocial personality disorder Case report Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy Mental health treatment +2

A Psilocybin Experience Gone Wrong: The Importance of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 7, 2025 Fernando Espí Forcén

As psilocybin awaits approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), scholars debate whether psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy should be required when prescribing this medicine. Here, we report the case of a patient who underwent a psilocybin experience without psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, resulting in inpatient psychiatric admission. This case underscores the importance of taking...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2449918 Psilocybin Hallucinogen Psychotherapist Experiential learning

Unveiling Psychedelics: One of the Most Meaningful Events in Life Associated with Improved Well-Being in Swedish Users

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 2, 2025 Petri Kajonius, David Sjöström, Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson 5 citations

In the midst of growing research and societal discourse on psychedelic substances, a consistent finding is reported: A majority of users report profound personal meaning from their experiences. This pioneering study in Sweden, a nation renowned for its strict drug policies, sought to quantify the extent of reported meaningfulness among Swedish psychedelic users. Results revealed that a majority...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2444892 Mysticism Meaning existential Sample material Clinical psychology +1

Effects of Ayahuasca on Gratitude and Relationships with Nature: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Alan K. Davis et al. 16 citations

Qualitative studies and anecdotal reports suggest that experiences with ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew found in Central and South America, may be followed by individuals enduringly feeling more grateful and connected to nature. Yet, to date, these changes have been understudied. Here, participants (N = 54) completed validated surveys related to gratitude, nature relatedness, and nature...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2312980 Full text Ayahuasca Positive psychology wellbeing Mystical experiences Biophilia +7

What Predicts Beneficial Outcomes in Psychedelic Use? A Quantitative Content Analysis of Psychedelic Health Outcomes.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Elias C Acevedo, Scott Uhler, Kaitlyn P White et al. 15 citations

Interest in psychedelics and their possible therapeutic potential has been growing. Metaphysical belief theory asserts that these benefits stem from the adoption of comforting supernatural beliefs following a mystical experience. By contrast, predictive self-binding theory suggests that the beneficial outcomes of psychedelics are primarily driven by psychological insights. The present study...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2314729 Full text Ego dissolution Mystical experience Predictive processing Psychedelics +2

Religion, Psychedelics, Risky Behavior, and Violence.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Sean M. Viña 12 citations

Research has found that psychedelic use is associated with positive behavioral changes, however research has yet to explore the relationship between socio-cultural conditions on this relationship. This paper intends to fill this gap by testing the effects of religious participation and beliefs on the relationship between psychedelic use and behaviors. This study examines the relationship...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2346132 Full text Distress Mental health Psychedelics Religion

Spiritual Well-Being Among Users and Non-Users of Psychedelics: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia, Lucas Oliveira Maia, Everson Meireles et al. 3 citations

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) in a Brazilian sample. We analyzed spiritual well-being, defined as existential well-being (EWB) and religious well-being (RWB), among individuals with varying religious and spiritual experiences, both users and non-users of psychedelics. The online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Brazil, from...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2284343 Full text Psychedelics-hallucinogens-entheogens Religiosity Spiritual well-being Spirituality-religion-faith +2

Association of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder with Trait Neuroticism and Mental Health Symptoms.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Morgan Hadley, Alicia Halliday, James Stone 1 citation

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is considered rare in hallucinogen users although there are conflicting reports about its incidence and prevalence. HPPD may be more common in those with trait neuroticism. In this study, we invited hallucinogen and other drug users to complete an online questionnaire about their use of hallucinogens, their experience of HPPD symptoms, and...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2287081 Full text LSD Anxiety Psilocybin Magic mushrooms +7

Trainees Unprepared for Advances in Psychedelic Medicine: A Survey Study.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2025 Jamarie Geller, Nicolas G. Glynos, Andrew Lemmen et al.

This study aimed to characterize attitudes and identify gaps in trainee knowledge and education that may impact the field's readiness for the reemergence of psychedelic use in psychiatry. A two-part survey was sent out targeting medical and allied professional trainees who may interact with patients using or planning to use psychedelics therapeutically. Collected data for part one characterized...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2341795 Full text Psychedelics Education Psychedelic medicine Training

Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 24, 2024 Omer A. Syed, Rotem Petranker, Emily C. Fewster et al. 3 citations

Although several studies have well described the characteristics of people who use psychedelics alongside their motivations and beliefs, little research has examined the preferences surrounding the source of psychedelic substances. In an anonymous online survey, we collected data from 6,379 consumers of 11 different psychedelic substances from 85 different countries, exploring their preferences...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2446445 Environmental considerations Natural sources Psychedelics Synthetic substances +3

Associations Between Ayahuasca Use in Naturalistic Settings and Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: Analysis of a Large Global Dataset.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 23, 2024 Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris, Tessa Cowley-Court et al. 5 citations

Emerging evidence indicates that ayahuasca consumption may have beneficial mental health effects. This study undertakes the largest analysis to date of associations between naturalistic ayahuasca use and current mental health status via an online cross-sectional survey. The sample included 7,576 participants (average age 41, 47% female) who had consumed ayahuasca in religious, traditional, or...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2424288 Full text Hoasca Mental health Psychological distress Psychological wellbeing +7

Maintenance Intramuscular Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, a Retrospective Chart Review of Efficacy, Adverse Events, and Dropouts from a Community Practice.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 22, 2024 Wesley C Ryan, Boris D. Heifets 2 citations

The use of ketamine and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for treatment of depression has grown dramatically, though much of these data are short term. The clinical profile of maintenance treatment remains poorly characterized. We assessed maintenance KAP for efficacy, tolerability, and reasons for dropout. This observational study retrospectively analyzed electronic health records from an...

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2421895 Full text Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy Maintenance Depression treatment +3

The Effect of Psilocybe cubensis on Spatial Memory and BDNF Expression in Male Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs November 13, 2024 Reza Ghaffarzadegan, Mokhtar Karimi, Behnaz Hedayatjoo et al. 6 citations

Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, drastically affect mental processing, cognitive functioning, and the mood state. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the Psilocybe cubensis extract on spatial memory and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The duration of CUMS was 4 weeks....

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2428241 Chronic stress Endocrinology

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