Veterans who used psychedelic medicines for non-recreational therapeutic purposes reported improvements in medical and mental health conditions, social interaction, spirituality, and overall function. Analysis of 93 comments from 65 civilian or military veterans identified themes including mysticism and spirituality, functional improvement and self-awareness, social connection and cultural impact, and impact on medical and mental health conditions, as well as neutral impressions and difficult experiences. The findings suggest that psychedelic use is associated with multidimensional wellness improvements beyond the absence of disease, reflecting dynamic interactions with personal, psychophysiological, and socio-environmental factors.
Veterans and civilians who used psychedelic medicines for non-recreational purposes in the previous three years reported improvements across pain, mental health, function, and overall quality of life, with the largest perceived gains in mental health and quality of life and the smallest in pain. Correlations among these domains were highly significant, particularly between function, quality of life, and mental health. No significant differences emerged between specific psychedelic drugs, suggesting the benefits may be class-wide. The study was retrospective, anonymous, and relatively small (65 participants), and lacked a baseline comparison.