Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study
Chris Arnison, Richard Egan, John H. Shaver
Kōtuitui March 20, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2025.2467035 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 34 |
| Population | Individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand who self-administered psychedelics with the intention of improving health or wellbeing |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelic self-medication Informal psychedelic use Diy psychedelics Self-administered psychedelics Personal psychedelic therapy Mental health alternatives Qualitative psychedelic research Emerging psychedelic practices Novel psychedelic applications Evolving psychedelic use Informal psychedelic trends |
| Key findings | Psychedelic substances are being used in Aotearoa New Zealand to address a variety of health and wellbeing concerns, often after other treatment options have been exhausted, with participants reporting positive results including symptom remission and improved psychological wellbeing. |
Abstract
This study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self-medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, partly in response to unmet mental health needs. We interviewed 34 individuals who had self-administered psychedelics with the intention of improving their health or wellbeing and used thematic analysis to generate themes from the interview data that capture the salient characteristics of this practice. We found that psychedelic substances are being used in Aotearoa New Zealand to address a variety of health and wellbeing concerns, often after other treatment options have been exhausted. Those we spoke to described personalised strategies of using psychedelics which were intended to enhance efficacy and reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes. Positive results, including symptom remission across a range of clinical disorders and general improvements to psychological wellbeing, were alleged. We highlight concerns this phenomenon raises for clinical practice, offer suggestions for reducing potential harms associated with it, and draw attention to aspects of naturalistic use that future clinical trials might consider exploring more systematically.
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 63
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology November 8, 2017
- Psychedelics and the essential importance of context. Journal of Psychopharmacology February 15, 2018
and 58 more in the library