Survey · 2025
Survey of 581 experienced psychedelic users on advice for a first psychedelic experience
- Original title
- Best practices for first psychedelic experiences: harm reduction advice from the psychedelic community.
- Authors
- Kruger DJ, Mersereau G, Sullivan A, et al.
- Journal
- Harm reduction journal, 2025
- Molecules
- Psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, Ayahuasca, Salvinorin A, Other
- Conditions
- Other
- Participants
- 581
- Evidence grade
- Low
- Source
- Read the original paper
The question
What do experienced psychedelic users recommend to people who are about to take a psychedelic for the first time outside of clinical or research settings?
What they did
Researchers ran an online survey with 581 people who reported having used psychedelics, using a community-based collaborative approach. Participants were asked which substances they would and would not recommend for a first experience, which combinations to avoid, and any other advice. Open-ended answers were analyzed by an experienced qualitative researcher and two coders to understand the reasons behind the recommendations.
What they found
Most participants recommended psilocybin for a first experience, about half recommended cannabis, and a third recommended MDMA/MDA. Reasons given were moderate intensity, dose-dependent effects, the ability to dose precisely, and a relatively short duration. Participants generally advised against ayahuasca, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and Salvia divinorum/salvinorin A for a first time, citing intensity and mental and physical health risks. They also advised against combining psychedelics with alcohol, stimulants, antidepressants, or narcotics/opiates, and suggested learning about the substance, setting intentions, and allowing the experience to unfold.
The fine print
This is opinion, not outcome data: no one’s health, safety or symptoms were measured or followed over time. Participants were self-selected and self-identified as experienced, so the views may not represent all people who use psychedelics, and the abstract gives no percentages beyond general terms like “most” and “about half”. The survey was conducted in the United States and this summary is based on the abstract only.
What it means
The study documents what an experienced online community believes makes a first psychedelic experience safer, which may be useful for harm-reduction education, but these are collective opinions rather than evidence that any particular substance or practice is safe.
Evidence grade: Low. An online survey of self-selected, self-identified experienced psychedelic users reporting opinions rather than measured health outcomes.
This summary is based on the study’s published abstract.