Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study
This study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self-medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, par...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Kōtuitui |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2467035 |
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| author | Chris Arnison Richard Egan John H. Shaver |
| author_facet | Chris Arnison Richard Egan John H. Shaver |
| author_sort | Chris Arnison |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self-medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, partly in response to unmet mental health needs. We interviewed 34 individuals who had self-administered psychedelics with the intention of improving their health or wellbeing and used thematic analysis to generate themes from the interview data that capture the salient characteristics of this practice. We found that psychedelic substances are being used in Aotearoa New Zealand to address a variety of health and wellbeing concerns, often after other treatment options have been exhausted. Those we spoke to described personalised strategies of using psychedelics which were intended to enhance efficacy and reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes. Positive results, including symptom remission across a range of clinical disorders and general improvements to psychological wellbeing, were alleged. We highlight concerns this phenomenon raises for clinical practice, offer suggestions for reducing potential harms associated with it, and draw attention to aspects of naturalistic use that future clinical trials might consider exploring more systematically. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea286009327747fea37476ec04043c2e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1177-083X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Kōtuitui |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea286009327747fea37476ec04043c2e2025-08-20T02:57:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupKōtuitui1177-083X2025-10-0120493795810.1080/1177083X.2025.2467035Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive studyChris Arnison0Richard Egan1John H. Shaver2Religion Programme, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandDepartment of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, USAThis study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self-medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, partly in response to unmet mental health needs. We interviewed 34 individuals who had self-administered psychedelics with the intention of improving their health or wellbeing and used thematic analysis to generate themes from the interview data that capture the salient characteristics of this practice. We found that psychedelic substances are being used in Aotearoa New Zealand to address a variety of health and wellbeing concerns, often after other treatment options have been exhausted. Those we spoke to described personalised strategies of using psychedelics which were intended to enhance efficacy and reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes. Positive results, including symptom remission across a range of clinical disorders and general improvements to psychological wellbeing, were alleged. We highlight concerns this phenomenon raises for clinical practice, offer suggestions for reducing potential harms associated with it, and draw attention to aspects of naturalistic use that future clinical trials might consider exploring more systematically.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2467035Mental healthpsychedelicpsychedelic-assisted therapyself-medicationqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Chris Arnison Richard Egan John H. Shaver Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study Kōtuitui Mental health psychedelic psychedelic-assisted therapy self-medication qualitative |
| title | Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study |
| title_full | Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study |
| title_fullStr | Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study |
| title_short | Self-treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: an exploratory descriptive study |
| title_sort | self treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in aotearoa new zealand an exploratory descriptive study |
| topic | Mental health psychedelic psychedelic-assisted therapy self-medication qualitative |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2467035 |
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