Abstract
Background: There is limited research on the provision of harm reduction services to people who use psychedelics. Little is known about provision of care to people consuming psychedelics outside of clinical trials.
Methods: We investigated how people who used psychedelics discussed their preferences for care (or “trip sitting”) on two online forums: The Shroomery and DMT Nexus. A thematic analysis of the discussion was conducted to better understand consumer preferences for harm reduction services and resources.
Conclusion: Demand for trip sitters with lived psychedelic experience is likely influenced by stigma and empathy. Trip sitters who could relate to the effects of psychedelics assisted consumers in avoiding stigma while vulnerable under the effects of psychedelics. As such, psychedelic harm reduction services should be delivered by peers to ensure care maximizes the benefits of empathy. Psychedelic harm reduction services should consider how remote workers could be employed. There is a clear demand for remote psychedelic care services and to our knowledge this has not yet been explored.
Keywords
abstinence, harm reduction, lived experience, online forum, psychedelic
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
12-2022
Publication Title
Contemporary Drug Problems
Publisher
SAGE
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
45463
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Content Type
Full object
Recommended Citation
Engel, L. B., Thal, S. B., & Bright, S. J. (2022). Psychedelic forum member preferences for carer experience and consumption behavior: Can “Trip Sitters” help inform psychedelic harm reduction services?. Contemporary Drug Problems, 49(4).https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509221121420
Comments
This is an Authors Accepted Manuscript version of an article published by SAGE in Contemporary Drug Problems, on 29/08/2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509221121420
Engel, L. B., Thal, S. B., & Bright, S. J. (2022). Psychedelic forum member preferences for carer experience and consumption behavior: Can “Trip Sitters” help inform psychedelic harm reduction services?. Contemporary Drug Problems, 49(4). Copyright © 2022 (SAGE).
https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509221121420