Self-reported experiences and perspectives on using psychedelics to manage opioid use among participants of two Reddit communities.
Noa Krawczyk, Megan Miller, Emma Yuanqi Gu, Natalia M. Irvine, Elisbel Ramirez, Julian Santaella-Tenorio, Thomas Lippincott, Michael P. Bogenschutz, Amanda M. Bunting, Meredith C Meacham
Addiction (Abingdon, England) January 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/add.16767 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 151 |
| Population | Posts from Reddit subreddits r/OpiatesRecovery and r/Methadone |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychedelic compounds Drug rehabilitation Recovery programs Internet forums Virtual communities Reddit On‐line communities Opioids Peer support Psychedelics‐assisted recovery Treatment |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Diverse perspectives exist on psychedelics for opioid use disorder, with some reporting strong positive effects via multiple mechanisms and others viewing the promise as exaggerated or dangerous. |
Abstract
The opioid crisis continues to exert a tremendous toll in North America, with existing interventions often falling short of addressing ongoing needs. Psychedelics are emerging as a possible alternative therapy for mental health and substance use disorders. This study aimed to gather insights on how people use or are considering using psychedelics to manage opioid use disorder (OUD), how these experiences are perceived to impact opioid use and what these lessons imply for future research and practice. We conducted a qualitative study using the Reddit online community platform. We extracted posts that contained key psychedelic terms from the two most subscribed-to subreddits dedicated to discussions of OUD treatment (r/OpiatesRecovery and r/Methadone) from 2018 to 2021. We thematically analyzed content from 151 relevant posts and their respective comments. Two prominent themes identified in discussions were perspectives on the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating OUD, and mechanisms through which psychedelics were thought to impact use and desire to use opioids. For many, psychedelics were deemed to have a strong impact on opioid use via multiple mechanisms, including alleviating physical symptoms of dependence, shifting motivations around desire to use opioids and addressing underlying mental health problems and reasons for use. Others saw the potential promise around psychedelics as exaggerated, acknowledging many people eventually return to use, or even considered psychedelics dangerous. There appear to be diverse perspectives on the effects of using psychedelics to treat opioid use disorder and an urgent need for controlled studies to better understand the impact of different psychedelics on opioid use, how they may be used in the context of existing treatments and what strategies they must be combined with to ensure safety and effectiveness. Integrating the experiences of people who use drugs will help guide psychedelics research toward effective person-centered interventions to enhance health and wellness.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ibogaine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A phenomenological analysis of the subjective experience elicited by ibogaine in the context of a drug dependence treatment Patients with substance-related disorders | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 22 |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: A qualitative study Patients with substance use disorders, including psychostimulant users | 2017 | Qualitative study | |
| A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders Individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder | 2018 | Qualitative study | |
| Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences. Participants with substance use disorders who self-treated with ibogaine | 2023 | Qualitative study | n = 13 |
| Ibogaine therapy for addiction: Consumer views from online fora. Contributors to Reddit and Drugs Forum discussing ibogaine therapy | 2020 | Qualitative thematic analysis | n = 101 |