Building standards of psychedelic care: Qualitative examination of expert perspectives on safety, inclusion, and accountability.
Christina Chwyl, Adrianne R Wilson-Poe, Kim Hoffman, Alissa Bazinet, Kellie Pertl, Jason B. Luoma, Don C Des Jarlais, Sarann Bielavitz, Philip Todd Korthuis
International Journal of Drug Policy 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104938 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 38 |
| Population | U.S. experts with psychedelic content knowledge, including providers (psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, addiction medicine experts, licensed/unlicensed practitioners) and harm reduction specialists |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Harm reduction Psychedelics Qualitative research Standards of care |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Five themes emerged for improving psychedelic care: strengthening accountability, advancing cultural inclusivity, supporting community integration, ensuring safety protocols, and navigating legal gray areas. |
Abstract
There remain significant gaps in knowledge about best practices for facilitated psychedelic care and psychedelic-assisted therapy. To inform the development of service models that support safe and beneficial experiences, this qualitative study explored expert perspectives on current and ideal standards of care, including key practices (e.g., screening, adapting care to diverse contexts) and regulatory and research challenges that influence service delivery. Online focus groups (n = 8) were conducted with a purposive U.S. sample of people with psychedelic content knowledge expertise, including providers (psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, addiction medicine experts, and licensed/unlicensed practitioners) and harm reduction specialists. Transcripts were analyzed through Thematic Analysis team-based coding using a combined inductive-deductive approach within a semantic framework. Participants (N = 38, mean age 47 (SD = 10) years, 53 % women, 84 % white) had an average of 10 years of psychedelic service experience (SD = 11) across diverse settings, including festivals/events, service centers, and clinical, research, ceremonial, community and 'underground' contexts. Five key themes emerged: (1) 'Strengthening Safety through Credibility and Accountability'; (2) 'Advancing Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Psychedelic Care'; (3) 'Healing in Community: The Crucial Role of Ongoing Support and Integration'; (4) 'Ensuring Safe Psychedelic Use: Preparation, Screening, Vulnerability, and Medication Management'; and (5) 'Providing Informed Guidance and Navigating Legal and Informational Gray Areas.' Overall, results underscore the need for stronger provider accountability structures, culturally inclusive practices, accessible and integrated community support, robust safety and screening protocols, and clearer guidelines to help providers navigate legal complexities, ensure safety, and optimize outcomes across diverse populations.
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 4
- From trials to clinics: investigators’ perspectives on translating psychedelic research into clinical care Translational Behavioral Medicine 2026
- Bridging veteran psychedelic peer expertise with research and clinical care: Peer Readiness and Education for Psychedelic Practice (PREPP) workshop Psychedelics August 13, 2026
- Trials, trips, and tribulations: pathways for implementing psychedelic therapy in Ireland. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology June 2, 2026
- Psychedelic-assisted pharmacotherapy: clinical applications and regulatory considerations Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy March 24, 2026
Cites 24
- Global Street Food: la cocina de la calle Diseño interior 2009
- Great Expectations: recommendations for improving the methodological rigor of psychedelic clinical trials Psychopharmacology April 1, 2022
- Studying Harms Is Key to Improving Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy—Participants Call for Changes to Research Landscape JAMA Psychiatry March 29, 2023
- Drug-drug interactions between psychiatric medications and MDMA or psilocybin: a systematic review Psychopharmacology March 7, 2022
- Psychedelic Commercialization: A Wide-Spanning Overview of the Emerging Psychedelic Industry. Psychedelic Medicine September 13, 2023
and 19 more in the library