A longitudinal study with nearly 10,000 US and UK adults found that people who used psychedelics during a two-month period reported greater increases in unusual visual experiences compared to those who did not. The effect was strongest among first-time users. These visual experiences occurred after the acute drug effects had worn off. The findings support earlier case reports and cross-sectional studies suggesting that naturalistic psychedelic use may be linked to persistent visual phenomena, though further longitudinal research is needed to clarify cause-and-effect relationships.
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin show promise for treating substance use disorders, and if larger trials confirm efficacy, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy might be integrated into existing treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and twelve-step facilitation programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Although AA has historically rejected medication-assisted treatments, the authors argue that classic psychedelics and their subjective experiences may be more compatible than conventional medications. They describe Bill Wilson's, the founder of AA, little-known experiences with psychedelics, suggesting aspects of psychedelic treatments could complement AA. A review of clinical trials evaluating psychedelics for substance use disorders is provided, along with discussion of potential large-scale impact if integrated into AA.