Beyond psychedelic exceptionalism: how people combine meditation with psychoactive substances, and how this relates to well-being.
Andreas Krabbe, Lena Lindström, Pilleriin Sikka, Jussi Jylkkä
Psychopharmacology October 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-026-07179-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,391 |
| Population | Naturalistic sample of adults (Study 1); stratified subsample of classic psychedelic and cannabis users (Study 2, n = 397) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Polysubstance use Psychedelics Psychological flexibility Synergy Well-being |
| Key findings | Contrary to prevailing assumptions, alcohol (29%), cannabis (19%), and nicotine (16%) were combined with meditation more commonly than classic psychedelics (6%), and classic psychedelic use was embedded in pronounced polysubstance use. Regression analyses found no consistent associations between psychedelic or cannabis use, with or without meditation, and any outcome. Other-drug use without meditation was associated with poorer well-being relative to no other-drug use, whereas other-drug use with meditation was not; alcohol combined with meditation was associated with better well-being than alcohol without meditation. |
Abstract
Combining meditation with psychoactive substances is often assumed to be a niche practice centred on classic psychedelics. We sought to broaden this narrative in two cross-sectional studies. Study 1 used a broad naturalistic sample (N = 1,391) to examine the prevalence of substance use, meditation, and their simultaneous combination, as well as associations with subjective happiness. Study 2 used a stratified subsample (n = 397) focusing on classic psychedelic and cannabis users, the most common psychedelic-type substances combined with meditation, to assess associations with mental well-being, peace of mind, psychological flexibility, depression, and anxiety. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, alcohol (29%), cannabis (19%), and nicotine (16%) were far more commonly combined with meditation than classic psychedelics (6%). Classic psychedelic use was also embedded within a pattern of pronounced polysubstance use, suggesting that it may reflect a broader substance-use profile rather than an isolated behavioural practice. Regression analyses found no consistent associations between psychedelic or cannabis use, with or without meditation, and any outcome. However, an unexpected pattern emerged for other drugs and alcohol. Other- drug use without meditation was associated with poorer well-being outcomes relative to no other-drug use, whereas other-drug use combined with meditation was not. Alcohol combined with meditation was associated with better well-being outcomes relative to alcohol use without meditation. These findings suggest that combining meditation with substance use is not limited to psychedelics and should be studied within broader patterns of polysubstance use and meditation practice.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine were more commonly combined with meditation than classic psychedelics; no consistent associations were found between psychedelic or cannabis use with or without meditation and any outcome, while other-drug use without meditation was associated with poorer well-being.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |