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Journey To The Centre Of The Mind: Psychedelic Treatment of Mental Health in Aotearoa

Daisy Lutyens

January 16, 2023 DOI: 10.26686/wgtn.21904854 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Exploratory mixed-methods study Qualitative
Population People in New Zealand who self-medicate with LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA
Interventions LSD psilocybin MDMA
Topics MDMA Psilocybin
Keywords Mental health Thematic analysis Aotearoa Qualitative research Exploratory research Hallucinogen
Citations 1
Key points Participants reported successful, long-lasting effects of LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA with minimal adverse effects, and advocated for legalisation.

Abstract

Examining participants’ experiences self-medicating with LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, this exploratory study sought to determine whether psychedelics have a future in New Zealand mental health treatment. This thesis employed a mixed-methods approach to data collection, by collecting broad-brush quantitative data via a Qualtrics survey, which then informed the qualitative data collection method of semi-structured interviews. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) steps of thematic analysis identified key themes from the interview transcripts, including the New Zealand environment, the success of the psychedelic treatment, and the creation of the ‘self-therapist’. There appears to be a robust, underground psychedelic community that offers participants support and knowledge around safe psychedelic use Congruent with international research, study participants reported successful, long-lasting effects of LSD, psilocybin and MDMA, with minimal adverse effects (Bird et al., 2021, Davis et al., 2020, Griffiths et al., 2008, Muttoni et al., 2019). The challenge of accessing legal, conventional mental health treatment meant that participants used psychedelics to craft their own safe treatment method, paying particular attention to set and setting. Overall, participants advocated for psychedelic legalisation in New Zealand and proved to be a valuable source of knowledge for future drug policy. Analysing these results, this study concluded that New Zealand’s prohibition of psychedelics fails to prevent individuals from seeking out these substances. Instead, it perpetuates societal and internal stigma and causes individuals to be wary of talking about their psychedelic-treated mental health issues. As psychedelics have been proven to be medically useful and incur minimal harm, they should be rescheduled and enabled in New Zealand drug laws, both as a form of self-medication and as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Lastly, while future research must consider psychedelics through other cultural lenses, any legalisation should be mindful of not appropriating other indigenous groups’ use of plant-based psychedelics.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on MDMA, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA 1992 Qualitative study n = 20
MDMA and Sexual Behavior: Ecstasy Users' Perceptions About Sexuality and Sexual Risk Current and former users of MDMA 2005 Qualitative study n = 98
Perceived Benefits of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy beyond Symptom Reduction: Qualitative Follow-Up Study of a Clinical Trial for Individuals with Treatment-Resistant PTSD Veterans, firefighters, and police officers with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD 2019 Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis n = 19
Negative Experiences on Ecstasy: The Role of Drug, Set, and Setting Current or former users of Ecstasy 2002 Qualitative study n = 98
A Qualitative Exploration of Relational Ethical Challenges and Practices in Psychedelic Healing Practitioners who have administered MDMA and psilocybin to clients in underground... 2021 Qualitative study n = 23

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MDMA Psilocybin LSD Meditation