Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Daniel J Kruger, Oskar Enghoff, Moss Herberholz et al.
24 citations
In a large online survey of 1,221 people who use psychedelics naturalistically, the most common source of information was their own experimentation and experiences (79.52%). Many also sought information from internet websites (61.67%), friends (61.02%), internet discussion forums (57.08%), books (57%), and peer-reviewed journal articles (54.55%). Few consulted their primary health care provider (4.83%). Scientific journals, psychedelic nonprofits, and university researchers were the most trusted sources; government agencies and pharmaceutical companies were the least trusted. Most participants felt popular media inaccurately stated psychedelics' benefits and risks and failed to distinguish between different types. The results indicate extensive information seeking outside mainstream health care.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
March 1, 2025
Daniel J Kruger, Jacob S Aday, Christopher W Fields et al.
19 citations
In an anonymous online survey of 1,221 people who reported past psychedelic use, most described adverse experiences: 74.3% felt frightened, 58.6% sadness, 54.3% body shaking or trembling, and 51.6% loneliness. About half reported some other adverse experience, and one in ten had adverse physical reactions. One-third knew someone arrested for possession or use of psychedelics; 8% reported that they or someone they know was the victim of inappropriate sexual contact by a psychedelic sitter, guide, or practitioner; and one-quarter knew someone who experienced a severe adverse event other than inappropriate sexual contact or arrest. The findings indicate that despite beneficial effects, psychedelic experiences can be challenging, distressing, or harmful, highlighting the need to prevent, identify, manage, and treat adverse events.
Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.)
January 1, 2023
Daniel J Kruger, Karahmet Amila, Sydney M Kaplan et al.
15 citations
Online discussions about the semi-synthetic cannabinoid THC-O-acetate reveal key topics for future research, including product composition variability, user experiences, comparisons with other substances, potential psychedelic effects, adverse experiences, and harm reduction practices. Despite safety concerns about toxic ketene gas released when heated, the most common administration method reported was inhalation. The analysis of Reddit comments from June to November 2021 identified these themes through systematic coding by a team of researchers.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Daniel J Kruger, Nicolas G Glynos, Christopher W Fields et al.
10 citations
People who use psychedelics and have higher education, lower age, greater frequency of use, male gender, White/Caucasian identity, higher income, and experience with more types of psychedelics tend to know more about legal status, active compounds, and therapeutic efficacy. A survey of 1,435 participants recruited at a psychedelic advocacy event and online showed overall high knowledge, but gaps remain, highlighting the need for targeted education and harm reduction outreach, especially in under-represented communities.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2024
Daniel J Kruger, Carlton Cb Bone, Meredith C Meacham et al.
9 citations
A survey of THC-O-acetate users found that the semi-synthetic cannabinoid produces low to moderate cognitive distortions—altered sense of time, concentration difficulties, and short-term memory problems—with few visuals or hallucinations. Scores on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire were significantly below the threshold for a complete mystical experience across all four dimensions. Users who had previously used classic psychedelics (5-HT2A agonists) scored lower on all dimensions. When asked directly, 79% of respondents said using THC-O-acetate is "not at all" or "a little" of a psychedelic experience. Some reports of psychedelic effects may stem from expectations or contaminants.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research
October 1, 2024
Carlton Cb Bone, Charles Klein, Kaelas Munger et al.
6 citations
Most people who use THCO, a semisynthetic cannabinoid derived from hemp, vape it (74.9%), while about a quarter dab it (24.3%) and tend to use higher temperatures than those who vape. A small portion of users (12.0%) expressed concerns about the risk of ketene gas, which can form when THCO is heated and is harmful to the lungs. Because multiple factors influence ketene formation and consumer temperature choices may enable it, more research is needed to understand the harm profile of hemp-derived substances like THCO.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
April 22, 2025
Nicolas G Glynos, Mallet R Reid, Jacob S Aday et al.
4 citations
People of Color have been underrepresented in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) research, and some have suggested that systemic harms like the War on Drugs and discrimination in healthcare might reduce their willingness to participate. A large-scale survey of people using psychedelics in North America compared 3,547 White people, 448 People of Color, and 377 Multiracial people. A lower proportion of People of Color used psychedelics with a trained provider, but equal proportions had disclosed psychedelic use to primary care providers, were equally motivated to use psychedelics with a trained provider, used psychedelics for similar issues, and reported similar effectiveness. The findings suggest that lack of trust may not fully explain underrepresentation, and other barriers should be investigated.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Daniel J Kruger, Julie Barron, Moss Herberholz et al.
4 citations
In a survey of 1,221 people who use psychedelics outside clinical settings, three-quarters supported decriminalization and legalization. Participants strongly favored allowing individuals to legally grow and possess psychedelic plants and fungi for personal use. Support was higher for natural over synthetic substances, for self-production and consumption over gifting, and for gifting over sales. Administration with therapeutic support was preferred over use without it. Participants worried about pharmaceutical-style policies, including patents on both natural and synthetic psychedelics. Most respondents lived in Michigan, but geographical differences were small. People who identified as psychedelic guides, educators, or therapists differed slightly but extensively from others. The authors suggest policymakers consider these preferences to ensure safe and equitable access and appropriate medical support.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
May 1, 2025
Niloufar Pouyan, Jacob S Aday, Steven E Harte et al.
1 citation
People with treatment-resistant conditions often see their illness as part of their identity. The pictorial representation of illness and self measure (PRISM) gauges this self-condition enmeshment. In a survey of 297 individuals who used psychedelics therapeutically on their own, most reported symptom improvement: 95.4% with depression, 98.36% with posttraumatic stress disorder, and 94.87% with anxiety. PRISM scores dropped significantly after the most salient psychedelic experience, indicating reduced identification with the condition. The decrease in PRISM scores correlated with symptom improvement across all conditions. PRISM appears useful for tracking how psychedelics affect self-perception across diagnoses, though limitations include convenience sampling, potential positive bias, and retrospective reporting.
Journal of psychiatric research
June 2, 2026
Daniel J Kruger, Audrey Czerew, Leigh Farquhar et al.
The research priorities of people who have used psychedelics differ from those of institutional researchers. An online survey of 1192 U.S. adults who reported past psychedelic use identified seven major domains for future research: therapeutic efficacy, best practices for non-clinical use, safety and adverse experiences, broader understanding including indigenous traditions, non-medical outcomes like creativity and spiritual awakening, best practices for therapy, and best practices for research. Institutional researchers emphasized molecular, neurological, and clinical topics, while users prioritized non-clinical use and societal and cultural issues.