The medical sociological and social epidemiological psychedelics paradigm (MSSEPP)
Drug Science Policy and Law November 1, 2025 S. Viña
A new theoretical framework, the medical sociological and social epidemiological psychedelics paradigm (MSSEPP), is proposed to address ethical concerns, lack of participant diversity, and limitations of the dominant biopsychic model in psychedelic research. MSSEPP integrates medical sociology and social epidemiology to emphasize how social, cultural, structural, and economic conditions together shape health outcomes from psychedelic use. It accounts for indirect and interacting effects across the life-course, often neglected in existing models. The article outlines an agenda to incorporate structural determinants, intersectional stigma, and community-based frameworks into psychedelic science, aiming for a more holistic and ethically grounded orientation for research, clinical design, and policy.