Views on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Substance Use Disorders from Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder and a History of Injection-Related Infections: A Qualitative Study.
Veronica Szpak, Samuel Maddams, Amanda Kim, Zachary Sager, Joji Suzuki
Psychedelic Medicine March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1089/psymed.2025.0003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | Individuals with opioid use disorder and a history of injection-related infection |
| Topics | Addiction Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Injection-related infections |
| Key findings | Participants with opioid use disorder who survived injection-related infections view psychedelic-assisted therapy positively for substance use disorders but have concerns about negative effects such as a bad trip, adverse effects, relapse, and misuse. |
Abstract
New treatment options are needed to improve outcomes for patients with both opioid use disorder (OUD) and injection-related infections. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has been suggested as a potential treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). To address this need, a qualitative study was conducted to understand the attitudes toward PAT from individuals with OUD who have survived injection-related infections. Semistructured interviews were conducted with individuals with an OUD diagnosis and a history of an injection-related infection. A thematic analysis was performed on transcribed interviews. Seventeen participants completed the interviews. The mean age was 43.8 years, and 58.8% were men. Participants generally expressed support for PAT for SUD; however, they also raised concerns. The most common themes that emerged were as follows: hospitalization allowed individuals to recognize the severity of their underlying OUD, PAT could contribute to greater insights about their illness and greater openness to recovery, comfort in knowing PAT will be administered while being monitored by qualified professionals, PAT addressing underlying mental health issues, and the importance of spirituality in recovery. The themes surrounding concerns involved experiencing a "bad trip," adverse effects, the risk of relapse, and psychedelic misuse. Overall, participants with OUD who survived injection-related infections view PAT positively as a treatment option for SUD. However, they have concerns about potential negative effects. Further research is needed to understand PAT acceptability for this patient population, especially if traditional medications for OUD have been ineffective.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy, 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 |
| LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with a life-threatening disease: A qualitative study of acute and sustained subjective effects Patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases | 2014 | Prospective follow-up with qualitative content analysis | n = 10 |
| 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 |
| The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy Patients undergoing psychedelic therapy with psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 19 |
Citations in the library
Cites 21
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Psychopharmacology March 8, 2012
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- Residential Psychedelic (LSD) Therapy for the Narcotic Addict Archives of General Psychiatry June 1, 1973
and 16 more in the library