Exploring the first use of psychedelic macrodoses in Latin American adults: Sociodemographic profiles, consumption factors, and subjective experiences
Oscar Véliz-García, Marcos Domic-Siede
Journal of Psychedelic Studies November 20, 2025 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2025.00454 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4,810 |
| Population | Latin American adults from six countries who had used a psychedelic macrodose for the first time |
| Topics | Ayahuasca MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Latin americans Consumption sociology Harm Mental health Psychoactive substance Clinical psychology Recreational use Empathy Substance use Public health |
| Key findings | Recreational motives dominated first-time psychedelic use among Latin American adults, with psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA most common, and substance-specific subjective experiences linked to set and setting. |
Abstract
Abstract This study explores the first-time use of psychedelic macrodoses among Latin American adults, addressing a gap in the literature regarding naturalistic use outside clinical settings. A total of 4,810 participants from six Latin American countries completed an online survey assessing sociodemographic characteristics, substances used, consumption contexts, motivations, and subjective experiences during their first psychedelic experience. The most frequently reported substances were psilocybin mushrooms (57.6%), LSD (33.3%), and MDMA (17.5%). Recreational purposes were most common (70.5%), followed by spiritual (21.6%) and therapeutic (5.2%) motivations. Most participants consumed psychedelics in social settings, particularly with friends (65.7%), while 9.1% consumed them alone. Significant associations were found between demographic variables, the types of substances used, and specific subjective experiences. Psilocybin was linked to introspection and well-being, ayahuasca to mystical states, and MDMA, to heightened empathy. Familiar environments were associated with more positive experiences, reinforcing the importance of set and setting . Although 86.3% of participants reported continued use, the most common reason for not repeating the experience was lack of opportunity, rather than negative outcomes. These findings offer critical insights into the early stages of contemporary, non-clinical psychedelic use in Latin America, informing harm reduction, public health policies, and culturally sensitive educational initiatives.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT Adults reporting a single most memorable God encounter experience, either nondrug or... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 4,285 |
| Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey. Ayahuasca users from more than 50 countries who completed an online survey | 2022 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 10,836 |
| Ayahuasca in adolescence: a preliminary psychiatric assessment. Adolescents from a Brazilian ayahuasca sect and matched controls | 2005 | Controlled cross-sectional study | n = 80 |
| Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users. Regular hoasca users from a U.S. branch of União do Vegetal and matched non-user controls | 2016 | Cross-sectional study | n = 57 |
| Indoleamine Hallucinogens in Cluster Headache: Results of the Clusterbusters Medication Use Survey People with cluster headache | 2015 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 496 |
Citations in the library
Cites 29
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- 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
- Set and setting, psychedelics and the placebo response: An extra-pharmacological perspective on psychopharmacology Journal of Psychopharmacology November 16, 2016
and 24 more in the library