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.
International Journal of Drug Policy
January 19, 2023
Søren Holm, Margit Anne Petersen, Oskar Enghoff et al.
18 citations
In a Danish online forum, users discuss psychedelic substances through five dominant frameworks: recreational, therapeutic, spiritual, scientific, and performance discourses. Analysis of 1,865 posts from 154 threads revealed that participants draw on and reproduce these shared frameworks when describing and negotiating their understandings and uses of psychedelics. The findings underscore the importance of a nuanced approach to user perceptions, suggesting that drug policy and practice should account for significant variation in motives and modalities of psychedelic use.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
May 16, 2025
Oskar Enghoff, Margit Anne Petersen, Søren Holm et al.
People who have used psychedelics, whether therapeutically or non-therapeutically, and those who have never used them all strongly prefer online sources for information about psychedelics. Different groups show distinct patterns in where they get information and what types of content they access, indicating varied online social learning environments for consumption practices. Online content influences both current and potential future use, even as public attention increasingly focuses on psychedelic therapy. Public health institutions could use these online channels to engage with the psychedelic resurgence.