Scientists Analyzed Thousands of Psychedelic Trips. They Found Something Disturbing
A newly released database of more than 25,000 anonymized calls from the Fireside Project’s Psychedelic Support Line opens a rare window into psychedelic experiences outside of clinical settings.
Scientists have analyzed over 25,000 calls made to a support hotline during and after psychedelic experiences, revealing disturbing findings. This dataset, published in Science Advances, surpasses all published psychedelic clinical trials combined. The majority of these substances are used recreationally, leading to limited research on their effects outside controlled settings.
The Fireside Project, a nonprofit founded in 2020, created the Psychedelic Support Line, connecting callers to trained volunteers for confidential peer support. Of the 25,419 anonymized interactions, 40.2% were during active trips, and 32.1% occurred after trips, known as integration. Psilocybin was the most frequently reported substance, followed by LSD, cannabis, and ketamine.
However, callers who used cannabis reported the highest distress rate at 47.2%. The study also uncovered 43 rare instances of facilitator abuse, where callers reported being given extra doses without consent. These reports suggest that even modest surveillance can detect harm in unregulated psychedelic settings. The study highlights the importance of genuine care and empathy from hotline volunteers, as successful calls were strongly linked to these qualities.
The researchers emphasize the need for further research, acknowledging that the data has limitations due to its sample bias and self-reported accounts.
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