Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 28, 2022
Maja Kohek, Genís Ona, Michiel van Elk et al.
25 citations
Regular participation in ayahuasca ceremonies is not linked to relevant health harms. Compared to normative Dutch data, 377 participants (50.1% women, mean age 48.8 years) showed better general well-being, fewer chronic or lifestyle-related diseases, more physical activity, and a more balanced diet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they used less alcohol. Although they used more illegal drugs than the general population, they did not report associated harms. This evidence could inform drug policymakers in developing evidence-based public policies.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2014
David E. Nichols
24 citations
The Heffter Research Institute, founded in 1993, is the only scientific organization dedicated to studying the medical value of psychedelics, focusing on psilocybin. Its first clinical trial examined psilocybin for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Subsequent studies include a UCLA trial for end-of-life distress in cancer patients, a Johns Hopkins study for anxiety and depression from cancer diagnosis, and a New York University trial nearing completion. A pilot study for alcoholism at the University of New Mexico is also finishing, with a larger two-site trial planned. Other ongoing work includes psilocybin for smoking cessation and effects on long-term meditators. The institute is planning a Phase 3 trial for distress in end-stage cancer patients.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2014
John Rhead
23 citations
A reviewer expresses initial excitement about a forthcoming two-volume work and, after obtaining a copy, reports being largely satisfied with it. The text is a brief, positive book review that does not describe the work's content, findings, or arguments.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2005
John R. Baker
23 citations
Many cultures have independently developed socially sanctioned frameworks for using psychedelic substances to foster religious experiences and spiritual insights, often designating certain substances as 'sacraments.' In modern societies where these substances are prohibited, use typically occurs underground and idiosyncratically, leaving individuals to interpret and integrate their experiences alone. This article contrasts the structured, communal 'sacrament' framework with more individualistic forms of psychedelic use, arguing that the former channels experiences in ways that increase the likelihood of personally constructive and socially integrative outcomes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 1976
Paul Pascarosa, Sanford Futterman
23 citations
The peyote ritual of the Native American Church may offer therapeutic benefits for alcoholics, based on observations of participants. The ritual's structured setting, group support, and the psychedelic experience itself appear to contribute to reduced drinking and improved social functioning among some attendees. The authors suggest that the combination of spiritual context and pharmacological effects of peyote can facilitate introspection and behavioral change, though they note that outcomes vary and the ritual is not a universal cure. The observations indicate potential for integrating elements of such ethnopsychedelic practices into alcoholism treatment, but controlled studies are lacking.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 15, 2023
Anees Bahji, Isis Lunsky, Gilmar Gutierrez et al.
21 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies found that psychedelic-assisted therapies—psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ayahuasca—were well tolerated and produced large reductions in depression symptoms across various diagnoses. Psilocybin showed a large effect (standardized mean difference -1.92) and MDMA a moderate-to-large effect (standardized mean difference -0.71). However, the certainty of the evidence was low to very low due to small sample sizes, blinding issues, study heterogeneity, and publication bias. The results are promising but highlight the need for larger, more rigorous studies.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 8, 2017
Tanida Brown, Wanda Shao, Shehzad Ayub et al.
21 citations
A physician with refractory bipolar depression chronically self-medicated with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) augmented with phenelzine, leading to altered mental status, mania, and psychosis. The case explores DMT's potential therapeutic and recreational uses, its theorized mechanism involving agonist activity at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C receptors, and the risks of self-medication, especially among physicians.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 15, 2019
Matthew J. Baggott, Kathleen J. Garrison, Jeremy Coyle et al.
20 citations
The drug MDA, an entactogen similar to MDMA (ecstasy), produces longer-lasting emotional and physiological effects than MDMA. In a controlled experiment with healthy volunteers, a single oral dose of 1.4 mg/kg MDA increased heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (cortisol and prolactin) to levels comparable to those from a 1.5 mg/kg dose of MDMA. However, participants' self-reported drug effects from MDA remained elevated for at least 8 hours, whereas MDMA effects subsided by 6 hours. Blood measurements showed that MDA and its metabolite HMA reached peak concentrations of about 229 µg/L and 92 µg/L, respectively. Because the two drugs had similar blood-level profiles, the longer duration of MDA's effects likely stems from differences in how it acts on the brain rather than from slower elimination.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1985
Richard Yensen
20 citations
LSD and similar drugs produce psychological effects too powerful and unique to be studied as ordinary psychotropic compounds. Researchers' theoretical expectations strongly influence the subjective effects and treatment outcomes. Double-blind controlled studies are inappropriate for LSD because neither active nor inactive placebos can create an effective blind. Studying human consciousness requires recognizing that measurement methods can alter the processes under investigation, analogous to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in physics. Current research tools may be so crude that results primarily reflect the effects of measurement itself. Despite these challenges, the need to advance understanding of the human mind demands continued responsible study of these substances, potentially learning from societies that have integrated them into their social order.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 29, 2023
Harrison J Lee, Vivian Wl Tsang, Brandon S Chai et al.
19 citations
Psilocybin shows promise for treating depression, but how it works in the brain is not well understood. This systematic review of 14 studies found evidence that psilocybin may act through changes in serotonin or glutamate receptor activity, increased synaptogenesis, and altered brain activity in regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. It also appears to change cerebral blood flow to the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. However, the evidence on functional connectivity and specific receptor activity remains sparse, and the lack of consensus across studies suggests psilocybin's antidepressant effects likely involve multiple pathways, highlighting the need for more research.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
March 6, 2019
Jacob S. Aday, Emily K. Bloesch, Christopher C. Davoli
19 citations
The surge in psychedelic research during the 1950s and 1960s is often attributed primarily to the discovery of LSD's psychoactive effects in 1943. This article argues that such a 'Great Person' or 'Great Chemical' historiographical lens overlooks other crucial factors. Mescaline was already being studied for psychotherapy and as a psychosis model before LSD. Psilocybin and other psychedelics were also discovered by Western researchers around the same time. Furthermore, dominant zeitgeists in psychology—pharmacological, psychoanalytic, and humanistic—were congruent with psychedelic research. While LSD's discovery may have been a catalyst, a broader psychedelic zeitgeist deserves recognition for setting the stage.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 20, 2014
Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos
19 citations
Ayahuasca, a botanical hallucinogen traditionally used by indigenous groups in the northwest Amazon, has seen its use spread globally. While acute and long-term evidence suggests good tolerability and safety in laboratory or religious settings, little is known about its immunological impact on humans. Given its increasing use and therapeutic potential, more information on potential risks is needed. This article provides a brief overview of available data on ayahuasca's immunological effects in humans.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 1, 2012
James A. Wilcox
19 citations
Former users of alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT) reported that the drug has strong hallucinogenic effects. The most common unwanted side effects included anxiety, nausea, and moderately severe dysphoria. Several users also experienced significant depression, suggesting that AMT use could be dangerous for individuals prone to depression.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2005
Marlene Dobkin De Rios
19 citations
A Shipibo urban shaman in Pucallpa, Peru, distinguishes between authentic folkloric shamanism and the current vogue of drug tourism, where urban men and women offer foreigners paid tours for drug-induced mystical experiences in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador. He views these touristic practices as attempts to resolve personal problems, reflecting a spiritual and psychological crisis in European and North American societies. He laments the misuse of toxic plants added to ayahuasca potions, which harm unsuspecting tourists who receive no real value from inexperienced, dishonest shamans lacking proper preparation and capability.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1985
Sidney Cohen
19 citations
LSD can produce a variety of psychotic experiences, some resembling delirium or schizophrenia, while others are unique. The neurochemistry and phenomenology of psychotic responses to LSD are better understood than transcendent experiences, partly because endogenous psychoses are more familiar than endogenous cosmic experiences. The LSD state, particularly the unsane condition, remains unexplained. An animal model for it is unlikely, and not all humans may be able to achieve it with hallucinogens. This area still requires exploration and research.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 7, 2024
Sandeep M Nayak, Sydney H White, Samantha N Hilbert et al.
18 citations
A prospective longitudinal study of 657 people planning a psilocybin experience outside a laboratory found that after the experience, participants reported increased perception of minds in various living and non-living entities such as plants and rocks, replicating earlier findings. However, the study found little to no change in participants' metaphysical beliefs, such as dualism, or in their self-reported Atheist-Believer status. These results contrast with cross-sectional studies suggesting psilocybin experiences alter Atheist-Believer status and non-naturalistic beliefs, but they support the relevance of mind perception and mentalization processes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 1987
John R. Neill
18 citations
Between 1953 and 1966, American psychiatry explored LSD not only for therapeutic uses but also for its potential to induce experiences resembling mystical or religious states. Psychiatrists debated whether the drug's effects held meaning beyond clinical symptom relief, with some arguing that LSD could facilitate profound personal insights or spiritual growth. This period saw a shift from viewing LSD strictly as a psychiatric tool to considering its broader philosophical and existential implications. The article traces how these discussions unfolded within professional circles, reflecting tensions between medical, spiritual, and cultural interpretations of psychedelic experiences before LSD was banned and research largely halted.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 16, 2021
Coryn E. Mayer, Virginia Lebaron, Kimberly Acquaviva
17 citations
Palliative care providers see multiple barriers—cultural, institutional, relational, and individual—to addressing existential distress in their patients. They describe the power and duality of being present with suffering, view suffering as inherently subjective, and express uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin therapy. These findings come from interviews with five interdisciplinary hospital-based palliative care team members. The authors call for more research to guide safe, inclusive integration of psilocybin into palliative care for existential distress.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 29, 2019
Stacey Farmer, Melissa N. Slavin, Mallory Loflin et al.
16 citations
Cannabis remains the most frequently used illicit drug in the United States, and as legal status has changed, more people use edibles. Among 172 individuals who reported an uncomfortable experience with edible cannabis, 62.9% found the experience at least somewhat meaningful, and 95.2% reported no medical problems. The most common non-medical problem was going to bed early or lying down (75.8%). Most participants (69.2%) said dose was the key contributor to the negative experience. Those who rated the experience as more aversive were less likely to use edibles again, and longer duration of the aversive experience correlated with higher aversiveness. Despite discomfort, the vast majority used edibles again and reported no significant problems.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
August 30, 2018
Miroslav Horák, Lea Hasíková, Nahanga Verter
16 citations
Ayahuasca users in the Czech Republic describe its therapeutic potential as broad, particularly for treating drug addiction, based on memory recall. The intensity of the drug's effects does not directly correspond to its therapeutic benefit. These findings come from semi-structured interviews with 46 participants (23 women, 23 men) who had attended at least one ayahuasca ritual or facilitated sessions, analyzed using grounded theory.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
April 1, 2013
Christina Cummins, Jennifer Lyke
16 citations
Nearly half of psilocybin users reported that their most wonderful life experience occurred while under the influence of the drug. Maslow defined peak experiences as moments of awe, well-being, or transcendence, and psilocybin is known to produce subjectively meaningful states. In a survey of 101 participants divided into three groups—those who had a peak experience on psilocybin, those who used psilocybin but had peak experiences elsewhere, and non-users—the three groups differed significantly on all measures of altered consciousness during their peak experience. The findings suggest psilocybin can facilitate or shape peak experiences, though more research is needed on naturalistic factors.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 21, 2023
Fiona Low, Mitch Earleywine
15 citations
Grief can become problematic or impairing, and while treatments for prolonged grief disorder exist, they have room for improvement. In a survey of 363 recreational psychedelic users who had experienced a bereavement, retrospective reports showed improvements in grief symptoms after the psychedelic experience, with a large effect size. Emotional breakthroughs during the experience were linked to greater symptom improvement, whereas challenging experiences were associated with less improvement. These findings suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be a promising alternative for treating grief symptoms.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 22, 2018
Sueli Moreira Mello, Paula Christiane Soubhia, Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira et al.
15 citations
Ayahuasca, a beverage made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which produces visionary effects. Despite concerns about liver injury from oral consumption, this study measured biochemical markers of liver damage in 22 volunteers who had consumed ayahuasca at least twice monthly for over a year. No significant changes were found in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, or gamma glutamyl transferase. Chronic ayahuasca use in a religious setting apparently does not impair hepatic function.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2015
Alan K. Davis, Harold Rosenberg
15 citations
People who persistently use ecstasy without being addicted may have a passionate attachment to the activity. In a community sample of ecstasy users, both obsessive and harmonious passion scores were linked to lower self-efficacy to refuse the drug and greater use of ecstasy to cope with worries. Obsessive passion was partially associated with more frequent use, more lifetime uses, and more pills consumed per occasion, whereas harmonious passion was not tied to those consumption measures. The modified Passion Scale could supplement assessments of the psychology behind ecstasy use.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 1, 1998
Charles S. Grob, George Greer, Mariavittoria Mangini
15 citations
At the turn of the century, hallucinogens were re-emerging as subjects of serious scientific and therapeutic inquiry after decades of prohibition and stigma. This introduction to a special journal issue surveys the historical context, clinical potential, and regulatory challenges surrounding hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin. It highlights renewed interest in their use for treating conditions like addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress, while noting the need for rigorous research to navigate ethical and legal hurdles. The editors call for a balanced approach that respects both the substances' risks and their possible benefits in psychotherapy.