Magic Mushroom Use: A Qualitative Interview Study of Post-Trip Impacts and Strategies for Optimizing Experiences

This study (2022) used interviews to shed light on how people use magic mushrooms, what they perceive the effects of such use to be, and the meanings that users attach to their magic mushroom experiences. Participants associated magic mushroom use with lasting impacts on their lives including transformation and learning experiences. Furthermore, participants described strategies to optimize their magic mushroom experiences, including engaging in research regarding magic mushrooms as well as making use of peer support.

Abstract

“The field of psychedelic research is undergoing a revival, yet research focused on non-clinical psychedelic use remains relatively limited. The current qualitative study sheds light on how people use magic mushrooms, what they perceive the effects of such use to be, and the meanings that users attach to their magic mushroom experiences. To be eligible to participate in the study, participants were required to be young adults who had used magic mushrooms within the past three months and residents of Victoria, Canada. Semi-structured, one-on-one in-person interviews regarding magic mushroom use habits, culture, knowledge and other factors were conducted with each participant and subsequently analyzed thematically. Participants associated magic mushroom use with lasting impacts on their lives including transformation and learning experiences. Additionally, participants described strategies to optimize their magic mushroom experiences, including engaging in research regarding magic mushrooms as well as making use of peer support. Furthermore, aspects of magic mushroom experiences conceptualized as harmful in previous studies were described by participants as associated with learning experiences and few harms. Participants’ perceived positive outcomes and relatively low-risk profile warrant further research to inform how magic mushroom users can maximize potential positive outcomes and also minimize harms.”

Authors: Lindsay Shaw, Kerri Rea, Nathan J. Lachowsky & Eric A. Roth

Summary

A qualitative study was conducted with young adults who had used magic mushrooms within the past three months to shed light on how people use magic mushrooms, what they perceive the effects of such use to be, and the meanings that users attach to their magic mushroom experiences.

Accessed 10 January 2022

Magic mushrooms; psilocybin; transformation; harm reduction; qualitative

Introduction

The field of psychedelic research is experiencing a revival following decades of inactivity due to federal bans. This paper explores magic mushroom use which is not facilitated, supervised, monitored or otherwise supported by clinicians or researchers.

Psychedelic research is strongly influenced by political and social climates. Today’s psychedelic research climate is influenced by the stigma associated with psychedelics and their accompanied prohibited legal status.

Psychedelic research in the 1950s-1970s was more relaxed than in the third wave, with researchers sometimes taking psychedelics alongside study participants. However, there are few studies on non-clinical psychedelic use, which indicates a likelihood of diverse psychedelic experiences.

Many studies of nonclinical magic mushroom use examine the harms associated with such use, and pay little attention to the potential positive outcomes of psychedelic use uncovered in clinical research. Limited interview-based and observational studies have been conducted on nonclinical magic mushroom use.

This paper summarizes and interprets qualitative data findings from a study on magic mushroom use among emerging adults undertaken in the mid-sized city of Greater Victoria, Canada.

Participants and procedure

A gender balanced sample of 10 self-identified men and 10 self-identified women were recruited to participate in a study on magic mushrooms use. They received a referral card for counseling services and a $20 CAD honorarium.

The first author conducted one semi-structured interview with each participant between February and March 2018. The interview lasted 25 – 53 minutes (mean = 35 minutes) and was approved by the University of Victoria Human Research Ethics Review Board.

Data analysis

Thematic analysis methods were used to analyze the interviews, and a codebook was created using a semantic approach. Two coding cycles were completed, and two major themes and four associated sub-themes were vetted by all authors.

Results

The study included 20 participants, 10 men and 10 women, and 95% were university students. They described how they associated using magic mushrooms with post trip impacts and learning experiences.

Transformation

Several participants discussed how their magic mushroom use caused long lasting, durable, and immediate internal changes. These changes occurred as a result of reconsidering formerly held beliefs, values, and ideas.

Many participants reported that mushrooms had helped them to love themselves more and let go of certain societal expectations.

Several participants reported an alleviation in their anxiety or depression following a magic mushroom experience, sometimes as a result of facing challenging memories or trauma.

Many participants reported perceiving positive impacts on their mental health as a result of using magic mushrooms, including enhanced appreciation for being alive and a deeper sense of meaning behind their previous experiences of being depressed and contemplating suicide.

Learning experiences

Some participants reported that their magic mushroom experiences elicited opportunities for self-reflection and poignant thoughts or emotions. They acknowledged the possibility of experiencing challenging magic mushroom experiences.

Another participant found working through emotional difficulties a routine part of magic mushroom use, but this brought him benefit by challenging negative thought patterns.

Research

Participants reported doing research on magic mushrooms prior to using them. This research included mainstream media articles, peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles, online discussion forums, substance use information websites, and talking with peers who had used magic mushrooms.

Participants discussed how they sought to apply scholarly research findings to their own magic mushroom use experiences, especially those who experienced depression alleviation.

Participants kept “trip journals” in which they noted the doses they took, thoughts, experiences and feelings. They shared their journals with each other and used this information to inform future use.

Peer support

Participants used social supports to optimize their magic mushroom experiences while ensuring safety. For example, having a person present who was not taking magic mushrooms was helpful.

Other participants reported that they told close friends when they were using magic mushrooms. They viewed this as a safety measure taken to optimize the experience.

Women participants described a preparation process that was especially focused on their individual safety. They wrote instructions to themselves before their magic mushroom experience.

Discussion

Participants perceived their use of magic mushrooms to be associated with lasting positive impacts, and prioritized safety.

The current study invites reconceptualization of magic mushroom experiences previously labeled as harmful. It found that challenging magic mushroom experiences were not associated with direct harm and were often associated with learning and personal growth.

Previous studies have identified harms associated with magic mushroom use. However, our findings indicate that some occurrences previously labeled as inherently harmful by other studies were associated with positive learning experiences by some participants.

Magic mushroom use was associated with personal transformation, increased coping skills, increased life satisfaction, and lower rates of psychological distress, past year suicidality, needing or receiving mental health treatment, and receiving a psychiatric medication prescription.

Participants in the current study used social supports to enhance their magic mushroom experiences. However, the role of social supports in psychedelic ceremonies may not align with harm reduction discourses.

Participants discussed engaging in their own research in order to optimize their magic mushroom experiences. This research could help better inform people regarding how to use magic mushrooms in a manner that minimizes harms while maximizing potential positive outcomes.

This study’s participants felt positive impacts from using magic mushrooms, and enhanced their experiences by researching the substance and ensuring peers supports were in place prior to using the substance.

The study examined self-reported use of magic mushrooms by young adults between the ages of 19 and 24, and found that a number of diverse topics were covered. However, the study did not draw any conclusions about the experiences of all adults using magic mushrooms.