Drug Science Policy and Law
January 1, 2020
Jacob S Aday, Emily K Bloesch, Christopher C Davoli
59 citations
Public and scientific interest in psychedelic drugs increased steadily over two decades and then grew exponentially in recent years, with 2019 bringing notable changes in science, industry, and deregulation. The article synthesizes these developments, including the establishment of psychedelic research centers, novel drug applications, and international expansion that solidified the field's place in science. Business and pharmaceutical industries stimulated considerable investment and innovation in psychedelics for the first time. In the US, successful decriminalization efforts and endorsements by political figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrew Yang, and heads of the NIH and FDA represented unprecedented regulatory changes. The article serves as a summary of emerging research themes, industrial innovations, and attitude shifts in 2019.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2025
Jacob S Aday, Emily K Bloesch, Alan K Davis et al.
16 citations
People who attended an ayahuasca retreat reported lasting increases in gratitude, feeling connected to nature, and appreciating nature. Surveys of 54 participants taken one week before, one week after, and one month after the retreat showed significant improvements at both follow-ups compared to baseline. The intensity of mystical-type experiences and awe during ayahuasca sessions weakly to moderately correlated with these increases, while the number of ceremonies attended did not. Older participants reported less intense mystical and awe experiences. The findings suggest that the quality of psychedelic experiences, particularly mystical and awe states, may foster prosocial changes in gratitude and nature connection.
Reviews in the Neurosciences
February 5, 2021
Jacob S. Aday, J. Wood, Emily K Bloesch et al.
A narrative review of early- to mid-20th-century research finds that psychedelic drugs alter perception across multiple sensory domains. Psychedelics influence all levels of the visual system, from retina to cortex, and can produce complex imagery and hallucinations. They also affect auditory discrimination and processing, sometimes leading to auditory hallucinations. The drugs distort body schema and time perception. Methodological limitations of that era temper the findings. The review preserves and synthesizes this pioneering work to guide future studies.