Heaven and Hell—A Phenomenological Study of Recreational Use of 4-HO-MET in Sweden
Anette Kjellgren, Christophe Soussan
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2011.605699 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Swedish persons aged 18-30 years who posted anonymous recreational experience reports about 4-HO-MET on public Internet forums |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Heaven Recreation Curiosity Cognition Subject documents Perception Hallucinogen Theology |
| Citations | 52 |
| Key findings | Recreational 4-HO-MET experiences produce drastic cognitive, emotional, and bodily changes similar to classic psychedelics, with users reporting both heaven-like and hell-like states but overall satisfaction and willingness to repeat the experience. |
Abstract
The psychoactive substance 4-HO-MET (4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine) with psychedelic qualities is one of many legal so-called Internet drugs. The aim of this qualitative study was to establish an understanding of what characterizes its recreational use. Very little is known about the effects of this substance. Twenty-five anonymous Swedish experience reports (from persons aged 18-30 years) from public Internet forums were analyzed using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological Method. The analysis produced 37 categories that were compiled into nine general themes: (1) motivation, preparation and expectation; (2) initial effects; (3) change of perception; (4) unfiltered awareness and intensified flow of information; (5) lateral cognition; (6) border between subject and object is erased; (7) heaven; (8) hell; and (9) subsiding effects. An understanding of the chronological happenings, called The Process, appeared out of the general structure. Drastic changes in cognitive, emotional and bodily functions were described. The motivation for use seemed to be driven by a strong curiosity. The experiences shifted between "heaven" and "hell," but participants appeared satisfied and ready to repeat the experience. The experiences described show great similarity with classic psychedelic substances as LSD or psilocybin. More research is needed about health hazards or possible therapeutic potentials.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients with treatment-resistant depression enrolled in an open-label trial of psilocybin | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Adults aged 22 to 69 with clinically elevated anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
| Psychedelic therapy for smoking cessation: Qualitative analysis of participant accounts Participants who completed a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation pilot study | 2018 | Qualitative follow-up study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis | n = 12 |
| Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Cluster headache patients who used psilocybin or LSD | 2006 | Qualitative study | n = 53 |
| Cancer at the Dinner Table: Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Distress Adult participants with clinically elevated anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis | 2017 | Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 28
- Patient Experiences of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Journal of Humanistic Psychology April 28, 2017
- The hallucinogenic world of tryptamines: an updated review. Archives of Toxicology August 1, 2015
- The users of Novel Psychoactive Substances: Online survey about their characteristics, attitudes and motivations International Journal of Drug Policy March 23, 2016
- Investigation of the Structure–Activity Relationships of Psilocybin Analogues ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 14, 2020
- Identification of novel psychoactive drug use in Sweden based on laboratory analysis – initial experiences from the STRIDA project Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation May 22, 2013
and 23 more in the library
Cites 7
- The pharmacology of psilocybin Addiction Biology October 1, 2002
- "Legal highs" on the net-Evaluation of UK-based Websites, products and product information. Forensic Science International March 20, 2011
- Hallucinogenic Drugs and Plants in Psychotherapy and Shamanism Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 1998
- Experiences of Encounters with Ayahuasca—“the Vine of the Soul” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2009
- Hallucinogens. Pharmacology & Therapeutics February 1, 2004
and 2 more in the library