Perceptions and experiences of psychedelic substance use: a qualitative thematic analysis of Polish-language Reddit posts

Abstract

Background Despite growing interest in psychedelic research, the expectations and social contexts through which people interpret and integrate psychedelic experiences remain underexplored, particularly outside Anglophone settings. This study aimed to identify recurring thematic patterns in Polish-language Reddit discussions and to examine how global scientific narratives are interpreted within a specific national, legal, and platform context.Methods We conducted an inductive reflexive thematic analysis of 202 posts and comments from 60 r/polska threads published between January 2022 and October 2025. The search covered classical psychedelics and related substances discussed in contemporary psychedelic-therapy discourse; these substances were analyzed as distinct where the data allowed.Results The analysis generated four non-exclusive themes: (1) scientific, legal, and policy frameworks; (2) personal experiences, expectations, and motivations; (3) social perceptions of psychedelics; and (4) perceived benefits, risks, and practices of safe use. Therapeutic framing was prominent and often functioned as a way of legitimizing discussion of criminalized or stigmatized substances, while users also debated pleasure, spirituality, safety, regulation, access, and substance-specific differences.Conclusion These findings describe how a self-selected group of Polish Reddit users negotiated psychedelic use at the intersection of global biomedical narratives, Polish drug law, perceived gaps in mental healthcare, and experiential knowledge. They may contribute to understanding user perspectives, risk communication, and informal knowledge exchange, but they do not provide evidence for clinical guidelines, pharmacovigilance decisions, or regulatory reform. Further mixed-methods and cross-cultural research is needed to assess prevalence, outcomes, and substance-specific risks.