Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: A World Apart from Clinical Care
Nicolas G. Glynos, Christopher W Fields, Julie Barron, Moss Herberholz, Daniel J. Kruger, Kevin F. Boehnke
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs August 11, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2108356 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,435 |
| Population | Attendees of a psychedelic activism event and users of psychedelic social media forums |
| Key findings | Among 1,435 people using psychedelics naturalistically, 72.5% never discussed psychedelic use with their primary care provider, and only 4.4% reported using psychedelics with a therapist or 3% in clinical settings, despite 77.8% saying they would be very or extremely likely to do so if legally available. While 62.6% were aware of substance testing services, 42.6% of those never used them. The authors suggest these findings indicate a need for healthcare provider training and more visible substance identity testing options. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Interest in and availability of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes has increased in recent decades. In a large, anonymous, online survey, we investigated patterns of communication with healthcare providers and awareness and utilization of substance testing kits or services among people using psychedelics naturalistically. The sample population included attendees of a psychedelic activism event and users of psychedelic social media forums. Among 1,435 participants, 72.5% never discussed psychedelic use with their primary care provider (PCP). Only 4.4% reported using psychedelics with a therapist and 3% in clinical settings, although 77.8% were very or extremely likely to take psychedelics with a therapist if one were legally available. While 62.6% of participants were aware of substance testing services, 42.6% of these indicated never using them. Regression analyses identified several variables associated with disclosure to PCP and utilization of substance testing services including age, gender, frequency and number of psychedelics used, and likelihood of consuming psychedelics under the guidance of a therapist if one were legally available. Further research is necessary to investigate these findings among other groups. Our findings suggest that relevant training and education for healthcare providers is needed, along with more visible options for substance identity testing.