Recent clinical trials suggest therapeutic potential for substances like LSD, psilocybin, or MDMA in mental health, always under a structured and professionally controlled administration. However, there is limited information on adverse effects when these substances are consumed outside these trials, in so-called “naturalistic settings”, often for recreational or escapist purposes.
The ULPGC correlational study analyzed the experiences of over 1,000 individuals who have consumed psychedelics. The data indicate that acute negative experiences, such as paranoia or distress, can persist or lead to delayed adverse reactions. The context and reason for consumption influence these reactions, and mixing with other substances like alcohol, caffeine, or cannabis is associated with a higher incidence of unwanted effects.
This work provides a first large-scale, comprehensive analysis of adverse reactions outside controlled environments, mapping contextual variables and substance combinations. The gathered information will serve as a basis for designing harm reduction strategies, psychological integration guides, and more precise, reality-adapted prevention guidelines, especially valuable given the rise of naturalistic retreats in Canary Islands.
Luis Alberto Henríquez Hernández, one of the researchers, notes that “this study shows that context, expectations, and prior mental state are crucial when addressing the use of psychedelics outside clinics. Identifying factors associated with bad experiences allows us to provide real science to reduce risks and protect people's mental health”.
The results of this research, part of the doctoral thesis of Jaime Rojas Hernández, have been published by the journal Psychiatry Research. Alongside them, the study is co-authored by Angelo Santana del Pino, Lucas F. Borkel, and Domingo Quintana.
