Epidemiology of classic psychedelic substances: results from a Norwegian internet convenience sample
Summary & key facts
Researchers ran an anonymous online survey of Norwegian adults who remembered a clear experience with a classic psychedelic. About 770 people answered, most were under 45 and about 70% were male. Most reported that their memorable experience was with psilocybin, and many said their own mental-health or substance-use symptoms got better afterwards. However, a small number had lasting bad effects, like flashbacks that lasted a year or more. The study used a self-selecting internet sample, so the results describe this group and cannot be taken as a general picture of the whole population.
- The study used an anonymous, one-time online survey of adults in Norway who had a memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance.
- About 770 people were included in the analysis. Around 9 out of 10 were 45 years old or younger and about 7 out of 10 were male.
- About half of participants said they took the psychedelic mainly for recreation, and about 4 out of 10 said they took it for therapeutic reasons.
- Most people reported their most memorable experience involved psilocybin (the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms).
- Many participants said they did preparation before, worked on processing during, and did integration work after the experience, but only a minority had support from a professional therapist.
- Most participants who reported having symptoms of mental disorders or substance use problems also reported that these symptoms improved after their psychedelic experience. These are people’s own reports, not clinical diagnoses or proof of treatment effects.
- Negative reactions were usually short-lived and mild, but about 4% of participants said an adverse reaction lasted a year or more.
- About 3% reported persisting flashbacks that lasted for a year or longer.
- Because the sample was self-selecting (people chose to join an online survey about memorable psychedelic experiences), the findings may not apply to all people who use psychedelics or to the general public.
Abstract
In this cross-sectional sample of Norwegian, self-selecting adults, we shed light on what characterizes the most memorable experience with a classic psychedelic substance, including short- and long-term risks and benefits. For the most part, the psychedelic experience led to improvements in self-perceived symptoms of mental disorders and substance use disorders. However, a small subset experienced persisting adverse reactions.
