An Evaluation of Therapeutic Harm Reduction and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Within Oregon's Measure 109
Bodhi Norton
October 2, 2025 DOI: 10.15760/etd.4050 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Facilitators working in legal psilocybin services settings in Oregon |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Facilitator Harm reduction Measure data warehouse Perception Work physics Schedule |
| Key findings | Facilitators' perceptions and personal definitions of therapeutic harm reduction influence the specific harm reduction techniques they use in practice. |
Abstract
Despite psilocybin still being a Schedule I substance in the Federal Controlled Substance Act (OHA, 2022), Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in 2020, now codified into law as ORS457A, which allowed for the opening of psilocybin clinics for eligible clients. The passing of Measure 109 allowed for an adult-use model to be created, which is different from a therapeutic-use model. Advocates and Measure 109 framers employed the terms "harm reduction" and "mental health support" in order to secure the passing of Measure 109, but there is no specific definition of therapeutic harm reduction within M109 and ORS475A. To receive psilocybin services in Oregon, clients must be treated by a facilitator within an Oregon Psilocybin Services’-licensed clinic. This study uses semi-structured interviews and a short survey with 15 individuals who currently work in a legal psilocybin services setting to understand the perceptions and personal definitions of therapeutic harm reduction, and how those perceptions and definitions influence the specific therapeutic harm reduction techniques in their practice. The aim of this research is to provide understanding and a general definition of what therapeutic harm reduction is and what it entails from those who work as facilitators.
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 |