Psychedelic researchers’ own experiences of psychedelic substances, their link to opinions of psychedelics, and reflections on positionality
Psychopharmacology August 11, 2025 Jussi Jylkkä, Aila Mustamo 1 citation
Most psychedelic researchers (85%) have personal experience with classic psychedelics. They view such experience as beneficial for research but also recognize it as a potential source of bias. Researchers acknowledge the importance of self-reflection and disclosing personal experiences, yet find disclosure challenging in practice. Personal use predicts more positive opinions about psychedelics' potential to improve well-being, transform society, address the ecological crisis, and answer spiritual questions. The findings highlight the prevalence of personal experiences among this sample and their influence on research interests and opinions, underscoring the need for open discussion and reflection.