Modern psychedelic users endorse safety advice from 1967 manual

Researchers found that contemporary psychedelic users and facilitators largely agree with safety recommendations from a 1967 manual written by Lisa Bieberman.

The study, published in Psychedelics, compared modern opinions with Bieberman's practical advice intended to help people avoid "bad trips" during LSD use. Daniel J. Kruger and his team at the University at Buffalo and the University of Michigan surveyed 496 adults who have taken full doses of psychedelics.

The participants rated 19 specific recommendations from Bieberman's booklet, Session Games People Play: A Manual for the Use of LSD. The results showed that the community endorsed an average of 18 out of the 19 tips, which included staying in private locations, being with trusted companions, and ensuring a guide is present. The study suggests that much of today's harm reduction advice was already present in grassroots literature decades ago.

While most tips received high marks, the advice to avoid looking in a mirror received neutral scores. This discrepancy reflects a historical debate between Bieberman and contemporary figures like Timothy Leary, who had different views on whether mirror-gazing helped or harmed the experience. Kruger noted that while clinical pathways for psychedelic therapy are expanding in places like Oregon and Colorado, many people still use these substances outside of regulated medical settings.

The research team aims to identify ways to reduce risks for these unsupervised users, as some individuals report persistent anxiety or other lasting negative effects after their experiences.