Psychedelic Forum Member Preferences for Carer Experience and Consumption Behavior: Can “Trip Sitters” Help Inform Psychedelic Harm Reduction Services?
Contemporary Drug Problems August 29, 2022 Liam B. Engel, S. Thal, S. Bright 29 citations
People who use psychedelics prefer trip sitters—caregivers who monitor them during a session—to have personal experience with psychedelics or other non-ordinary states of consciousness, knowledge of health and medical fields, and familiarity with psychedelic literature. Forum discussions on The Shroomery and DMT Nexus also reveal a demand for remote trip sitting, where consumers communicate plans online to a sitter who is not physically present, balancing privacy with care. These preferences likely stem from stigma and the value of empathy; trip sitters with lived experience can relate to the effects and help consumers avoid judgment. The findings suggest that harm reduction services should be delivered by peers and should explore remote care options.