Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences.
Liridona Gashi, Sveinung Sandberg, Willy Pedersen
International Journal of Drug Policy 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102997 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Norwegian users of psychedelics |
| Topics | DMT LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Bad trip Narratives Psychedelics |
| Citations | 170 |
| Key findings | Bad trip narratives serve as a coping mechanism that transforms frightening psychedelic experiences into valuable, life-altering insights, enabling continued use. |
Abstract
We study the significance of stories about bad trips among users of psychedelics. Drawing on narrative theory, we describe the characteristics of such stories and explore the work they do. In-depth qualitative interviews with 50 Norwegian users of psychedelics. Almost all participants had frightening experiences when using psychedelics and many described these as bad trips. The key feature of a bad trip was a feeling of losing oneself or going crazy, or ego dissolution. Most users said that these experiences could be avoided by following certain rules, based on tacit knowledge in the subcultures of users. Possessing such knowledge was part of symbolic boundary work that distinguished between drug culture insiders and outsiders. Some also rejected the validity of the term bad trip altogether, arguing that such experiences reflected the lack of such competence. Finally, and most importantly, most participants argued that unpleasant experiences during bad trips had been beneficial and had sometimes given them deep existential and life-altering insights. Bad trip experiences are common among users of psychedelics. Such experiences are often transformed into valuable experiences through storytelling. Bad trip narratives may be a potent coping mechanism for users of psychedelics in non-controlled environments, enabling them to make sense of frightening experiences and integrate these into their life stories. Such narrative sense-making, or narrative work, facilitates the continued use of psychedelics, even after unpleasant experiences with the drugs.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
| An encounter with the self: A thematic and content analysis of the DMT experience from a naturalistic field study. Screened, healthy, anonymized, experienced DMT users (mostly Caucasian, 83% men, mean... | 2023 | Naturalistic field study with qualitative thematic and content analysis | n = 36 |
| The content of complex psychedelic experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine People who smoked N,N-dimethyltryptamine and posted narrative accounts online | 2023 | Qualitative study | |
| DMT micro-phenomenology Healthy participants who received DMT during fMRI scanning | 2024 | Qualitative study using micro-phenomenological interviews | n = 23 |
| An encounter with death: a comparative thematic and content analysis of naturalistic DMT experiences and the near-death experience. Participants in a naturalistic field study of DMT (36 interviews) and individuals with... | 2025 | Thematic and content analysis of qualitative interviews and written narratives | n = 70 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 140
- Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 2, 2022
- Adverse events in clinical treatments with serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA: A mixed-methods systematic review Journal of Psychopharmacology August 26, 2022
- Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study PLoS One October 24, 2023
- Prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics. Journal of Affective Disorders April 1, 2023
- Case analysis of long-term negative psychological responses to psychedelics Scientific Reports September 25, 2023
and 135 more in the library
Cites 23
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
and 18 more in the library