Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study
Kōtuitui March 20, 2025 Chris Arnison, Richard Egan, John H. Shaver
In Aotearoa New Zealand, people are using psychedelic substances without clinical supervision to address health and wellbeing issues, often after other treatments have failed. Interviews with 34 individuals who self-administered psychedelics for health reasons revealed personalized strategies aimed at improving efficacy and reducing harm. Participants reported positive outcomes, including symptom remission for various clinical disorders and general psychological improvements. The phenomenon raises concerns for clinical practice and suggests aspects of naturalistic use that future clinical trials could explore more systematically.