Recreation and Realization: Reported Motivations of Use Among Persons Who Consume Psychedelics in Non-Clinical Settings
This qualitative interview study (n=30) finds that the motivation given by recreational users of psychedelics is mostly centred around curiosity and 'having fun' and less, but still so, about decreasing ego-inflated pathology and increasing existential awareness.
Authors
- Dollar, C. B.
Published
Abstract
Psychedelic research is said to be going through a renaissance with widespread public and political attention on psychedelics’ ability to clinically resolve various medicalized issues. The prevailing cultural narrative of psychedelics almost touts it as a panacea when used in regulated, clinical settings under the supervision of a trained guide. While clinical studies are certainly informative, it is important to recognize that most psychedelic use takes place in social settings, not clinical ones. This paper seeks to expand the narrative on psychedelic research by presenting in-depth interview data on a diverse sample of 30 persons who report using psychedelic substances “on their own terms.” Data indicate multiple reasons for initial and subsequent psychedelic use, only some of which comport with the prevailing narrative that psychedelic use decreases ego-inflated pathology while increasing existential awareness. Indeed, while these reasons are cited among some when discussing reasons for continued use, most interviewees report motivations related to curiosity and having fun.
Research Summary of 'Recreation and Realization: Reported Motivations of Use Among Persons Who Consume Psychedelics in Non-Clinical Settings'
Introduction
Brooks Dollar situates the study within a renewed public and scientific interest in psychedelics, noting that contemporary media often frames these substances as medicalised remedies administered in controlled clinical settings. The introduction contrasts that prevailing narrative with evidence that most psychedelic consumption in the United States occurs in non-clinical, social contexts, and highlights large-scale lifetime-use estimates and recent survey data to show continued widespread use despite past criminalisation. This paper sets out to broaden understanding of real-world psychedelic use by reporting in-depth interview data from a diverse sample of 30 people who consume moderate or high doses of psychedelics “on their own terms.” The central aim is descriptive and exploratory: to document reported motivations for initial and continued use in social settings and thereby provide a more inclusive portrait that complements clinical research findings.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- APA Citation
Dollar, C. B. (2021). Recreation and Realization: Reported Motivations of Use Among Persons Who Consume Psychedelics in Non-Clinical Settings. Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology. https://doi.org/10.21428/88de04a1.cb6fef95
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